The 1882-CC Liberty half eagle enjoyed a substantial mintage (in the context of the series) of 82,817 pieces. The issue circulated heavily in the regional economy at the time of issue and few high-quality examples were saved by contemporary collectors. Accordingly, the 1882-CC is not difficult to locate in circulated grades, but it is scarce in MS61 condition, and finer coins are prime condition rarities. The PCGS population is 22 with 14 graded higher, none better than MS62+. Listed at $15,300 in the CDN CPG and $20,000 in the PCGS price guide.
Offered at $16,800
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
1807 is the final year for the Capped Bust Right type, which had ruled the denomination since its 1796 debut. Like many quarter eagle and dime die pairings from the early Mint era, the dies for the 1807 BD-1 quarter eagle — a single-die-pair year — were used to strike about 6,800 of the gold coins along with an estimated 165,000 silver dimes, which are also known through only the single JR-1 die marriage. These “marriages of convenience” were enabled via the lack of a stated denomination on either type. Although the obverse die is new (of course), the reverse die was previously used for all quarter eagles dated 1805 and 1806.
Though not apparent in our images, the example offered here exhibits abundant luster and excellent eye-appeal. The PCGS population is 9 with 23 graded higher.
Listed at $36,000 in the CDN CPG and $45,000 in the PCGS price guide.
Offered at $36,400
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
The 1852 date was a heavily minted (over 2 million produced), but like all Type One double eagles it is distinctly uncommon in Mint State and rare in Select Mint State. Type collectors usually focus on the 1851, 1852, 1853 and 1861 double eagles to find a suitable specimen. Gold specialists compete for these dates, searching out sharp examples with excellent eye appeal. The one offered here exhibits satiny surfaces and golden-tan color. The NGC population is only 8 with 1 graded higher.
Listed at $28,800 in the CDN CPG and $29,500 in the NGC price guide.
Offered at $28,000
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
The 1927-S double eagle has a long history of being among the scarcest and most prized dates in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series. No significant quantities were ever released to the Treasurer, and the vast majority of the more than 3 million-coin mintage was later melted. In Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, Roger Burdette writes:
“After World War II, scarce-date coins began to surface in the bullion and numismatic holdings of European banks and individual. Several issues once thought to be very rare were located; some such as 1922-S and 1926-S in large quantities. A few 1927-S double eagles appeared, but not enough to have a significant impact on the coin’s relative scarcity.” Today, about 300 pieces are believed extant in all grades, most residing in the MS61 to MS63 grade range.
Listed at $38,400 in the CDN CPG and $39,500 in the NGC price guide.
Offered at $36,500
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
The design of the double eagle was modified to include the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the reverse in 1866, initiating the popular Type Two design. The San Francisco Mint struck both Type One and Type Two twenties that year, but all double eagles produced at the Philadelphia Mint were of the new Motto design.
While the business-strike mintage was 698,745 pieces, few high-quality examples were saved by contemporary collectors. Only the wealthiest 19th century collectors could afford to set aside lengthy date runs of twenty-dollar gold coins, and the well-heeled numismatists who did collect double eagles preferred to update their collections by purchasing proof examples from the Mint every year. The coins were seldom seen in circulation, as they could only be purchased from banks and bullion brokers at a premium and the general public had become accustomed to the more convenient paper money during the Civil War years. Much of the 1866 mintage was exported and melted. Some more coins were sent to the Western United States where they circulated heavily in the hard-money economy of that region. By the time numismatic interest in the denomination became widespread in the late 1930s the coins had been circulating for decades, suffering much wear and attrition along the way. The 1866 Liberty double eagle is not difficult to locate in circulated grades today, but Mint State examples are decidedly elusive. Most Uncirculated examples are concentrated in the MS60-MS61 grade range and finer coins are rare. The one offered here is highly lustrous, with attractive color and excellent eye appeal. The PCGS population is only 11 with 2 graded higher.
Listed at $39,600 in the CDN CPG and $35,000 in the PCGS price guide.
Offered at $36,650
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
The last decade of Saint-Gaudens double eagle production can be classified broadly as having resulted in three distinct types of issues. The first are mass-produced and readily available Philadelphia issues struck from 1924 through 1928. Those five dates accounts for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of high-grade Saint-Gaudens twenty dollar gold pieces on the secondary market. The second group includes the scarce, heavily melted branch mint issues manufactured during that same span, including the 1924-D, 1924-S, 1925-D, 1925-S, 1926-D, 1926-S, 1927-D, and 1927-S. All of those issues can prove challenging, some more so than others (like the 1927-D), and none are nearly as accessible as their generally substantial mintages suggest. The third group combines both Philadelphia and branch mint issues. It includes the five final “collectible” Saint-Gaudens twenties struck from 1929 to 1932 plus the essentially unobtainable 1933. The 1924-D ranks among the most accessible of those branch mint melt rarities. Roger Burdette notes that all but 13,229 of the 3 million coins struck were melted as part of the Gold Act of 1933, and 217 additional coins were melted for assay purposes. Burdette explains that a number of coins were shipped to Europe for use in international payments and writes: “A number of small hoards of the 1924-D were uncovered in Europe in the 1950s, 1960s, and even in the 1970s.” About 1,200 examples are believed to survive, nearly all of which are found in grades up to and including MS64 but rarely higher. The PCGS population is 10 with 6 graded higher.
Listed at $168,000 in the CDN CPG and $175,000 in the PCGS price guide.
Offered at $161,000
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
In his 1998 sale of the John Jay Pittman Collection, Part II, David Akers presented the following remarks on the 1839 Head of 1840 eagle: “The 1839 Type of 1840 issue is one of the greatest rarities among all Liberty Head eagles, especially in high grade. It is also far more rare that the 1839 Type of 1838 or even the 1838, both of which have traditionally been more highly prized due to their type coin status.” Today, only 50 to 60 examples are believed extant, with just three or four in Mint State. The example offered here is noticeably lighter and more lustrous than seen in our images. The PCGS population is 5 with 16 graded higher.
Listed at $11,800 in the CDN CPG and $13,000 in the PCGS price guide.
Offered at $11,000
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
In 1847 the New Orleans Mint was less than a decade old, at least in terms of coinage manufacture — construction began in 1835 and was completed in 1839 — and the facility set numerous records in the year. The eagle coinage for 1847 was the single largest O-mint production, coming in at 571,000 pieces, and even today examples are readily available through the AU level. The quarter eagle mintage was also generous, at 124,000 pieces, but surviving examples are scarce in AU condition and legitimately rare in Unc. The PCGS population is only 3 with 3 graded higher.
Listed at $21,000 in the CDN CPG and $22,500 in the PCGS price guide.
Offered at $21,900
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
The year 1877 witnessed the introduction of a third and final type in the Liberty Head twenty-dollar series, with TWENTY DOLLARS spelled out in full at the lower reverse. The Philadelphia Mint coined just shy of 400,000 pieces. A majority of certified coins show up in the AU58 to MS62 range. This date becomes very scarce at the MS63 grade level, as illustrated by the PCGS population of just 20 with 2 graded higher. And the best of the latter is MS64.
Listed at $14,400 in the CDN CPG and $15,000 in the PCGS price guide.
Offered at $12,900
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
BG-435 is one of the most important and best-known California small denomination gold varieties. It was the only variety to appear on the back of the Jay Roe auction catalog, and the only variety to have both sides shown on the front of the catalog. BG-435 is the sole Arms of California variety, and is one of the few varieties with a side that imitates the eagle, shield, and ribbon motif from the Assay Office slugs. This is a very scarce item in any condition and Gems are outright rare! This is the only example graded MS66 by NGC, with none higher. It exhibits extremely well preserved, semi-PL surfaces. Unlisted in the NGC price guide but listed at $20,000 in the PCGS price guide.
Offered at $13,400 delivered
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
