View allAll Photos Tagged EF45
I had seen this fresh unit bouncing around on the Zs, but it was never on the point. On this morning, it turned up on the point of an eastbound rock train. They are slowing down to line the switch for the west leg of the wye and head into the St. Cloud Yard.
Mintage: 10,000
With the exception of the popular one-year type 1856-S, all of the gold dollars from San Francisco are rare in Uncirculated. The 1857-S, a low mintage issue with just 10,000 struck, is no exception - and when available survivors are mostly in the EF45 to AU55 range. In Uncirculated, there are probably not more than a dozen or so known - and nearly all grade MS60 to MS61.
The present example is a strictly "new" coin with full luster and no wear seen on the high spots. The surfaces are clean and choice with no detracting marks and the luster is far more vibrant than usual for the issue. Also worthy of note is this coin's bold strike which is uncommonly sharp at the border and which features strong centers as well.
Mintage: 3,477
The 1858-D is the second most available Type Three dollar from this mint trailing only the 1859-D. There are an estimated 200-250 known. Most are in the EF45 to AU55 range and approximately 15-25 exist in Uncirculated. There are two superb pieces accounted for, both in NGC MS66 holders.
Mintage: 1,781
The 1805 is one of the more obtainable Capped Bust Right quarter eagles but it is still scarce in all grades. This choice example has some adjustment marks at the central reverse but it is very pleasing from a visual basis. Most early quarter eagles did not circulate.
Mintage: 24,867 (est.)
BD-3, Rarity-5. Reverse state B with the crack as described by Bass and Dannreuther. One of an estimated 35-50 pieces known. There are no less than seven different die varieties of the 1798 Large Eagle five dollar gold piece; an impressive fact when you consider that just 24,867 were believed to have been struck. The varieties with the Large 8 in the date are distinctive on account of the size of this digit. BD-3 is especially significant as it is the only variety with 14 stars on the reverse. My best estimate is that three dozen or so exist with most in the EF45 to AU55 range. As more people begin to collect early gold by variety, under-appreciated and undervalued rarities such as the 1798 Large 8 14 Star reverse half eagle will truly come into their own.
Mintage: 50,141
Classic Head variety. From the standpoint of overall rarity, the 1834 Crosslet 4 is the single rarest Classic Head half eagle, eclipsing even the rare and extremely popular 1838-C and 1838-D issues. Since it is a variety, it does not receive the recognition that the branch mint issues get but it is an extremely tough coin to locate. In my experience, it is almost never found in the EF grade range and when it is, these examples are either damaged or unattractive.
MIntage: 24,867 (all 1798 types)
BD-4, High R-4. Late reverse die state with rim cuds at 12:00 and 1:00.
1798 Heraldic Reverse half eagles are found with a Small 8 and a Large 8 in the date; the latter comes with 13 and 14 stars on the reverse. The Large 8, 13 stars has a surviving population which has been estimated at 125-150 coins with most in the EF45 to AU55 range. Uncirculated pieces are quite scarce with perhaps 12-15 accounted for. In properly graded MS62, this issue is very rare. The single best I am aware of is the weakly struck NGC MS64 which sold for $155,250 in a 2011 Heritage auction; the Bass/ANA Museum coin would likely grade at least MS64 if it were encapsulated.
This is a truly exceptional coin. It is extremely well-detailed for this variety with just a bit of softness at the centers and far fewer adjustment marks than usual. The surfaces are frosty and show natural yellow-gold color with some greenish-gold highlights. Unlike nearly every known 1798 half eagle, this piece has not been cleaned or dipped and its eye appeal is significantly above average for the grade.
Mintage: 2,500
After years of neglect, collectors have finally learned how rare the 1841-O eagle actually is. There are an estimated 50 to 60 known with most in the Fine to Very Fine range. This is the second rarest No Motto eagle from New Orleans (trailing only the 1859-O) but it is actually the rarest in higher grades. If you are a serious collector of New Orleans gold you are probably aware of just how hard it is to find this date and finding one with good eye appeal.
Mintage: 4,808
From looking at the PCGS/NGC population figures, you would think that an EF45 1846-D quarter eagle is common. This is far from the case, however, as the population figures are inflated by resubmissions and include numerous coins that are marginal (at best) for the grade. Locating ANY Dahlonega quarter eagle in original, problem-free condition is actually much harder than you'd think.
Mintage: 13,220
This coin was discovered a few years ago in the Northeast and it was in the personal collection of a knowledgeable dealer/collector who, after I harassed him for the last three years, finally traded it to me for another very special gold coin.
If you know anything about this date, you are probably aware than most of the 50-60 that exist are very well worn with most under EF45. Properly graded AU’s are rare and in Uncirculated there are exactly two known: this one and Bass II: 1118 (ex Milas: 517 at $34,100) that has been graded MS62 by both PCGS and NGC and which sold for $30,800 back in October 1999. The Bass/Milas coin is just a hair nicer than this piece but not by much.
It is totally original with superb rose and medium orange-gold hues atop exceedingly lustrous surfaces that have never been cleaned, dipped or toyed with. There are a few minor marks in the upper left obverse field and a very shallow scrape below stars four through six that does not detract. Most gold coins from this era in MS61 holders are marginal quality at best; this piece is extremely high end and it is all the more remarkable considering how low-end the typical 1859-S half eagle is.
Mintage: 8,000
As the years go by, I become more and more convinced that the 1855-O is easily the rarest New Orleans double eagle after the 1854-O and 1856-O. Of the 8,000 struck there are an estimated 70-80 known of which most are in the VF-EF range. I am aware of a dozen or so AU's and most are off the market in private collections. Unlike the 1859-O and 1860-O, price levels for the 1855-O do not fully reflect the rarity of this date and I think it remains undervalued.
Mintage: 23,900
As on every known example, this piece shows general flatness of strike on the obverse and reverse. The 1849-O eagle is scarce in all grades and I regard it as tied for fourth scarcest of the twenty-one No Motto issues from this mint. There are fewer than 100 known and most are seen in the VF-EF range.
Mintage: 1,261,326
There are a lot of interesting things about the 1853/2. It is, of course, the only legitimate overdate in the entire Liberty Head double eagle series. It is scarce in all grades and, for some reason, it seems to be available more often in the AU grades than in the affordable VF and EF grades. One might suggest that this is due to the fact that the overdate feature might not be visible on lower grades. This is not the case and there is a major diagnostic feature on all 1853/2 double eagles that is clearly visible on even well-worn coins: a large oblong die dot below the tail of the R in LIBERTY.
Mintage: 9,056
As the second most available Charlotte quarter eagle, this date gets no price premium for rarity which makes it ideal for type purposes.
It has become more and more difficult to find Southern branch mint gold coins of this quality.
Mintage: 17,741
Housed in an old green label holder and appreciably undergraded by today's standards; in my opinion, this coin grades at least AU55 if not AU58.
The 1861-O has the greatest multiple level of demand of any double eagle from this mint. It appeals to the Type One specialist, the Civil War collector and the New Orleans gold aficionado. There were 17,741 produced and around 150-175 exist. Of these maybe three dozen are known in AU but probably 75% of these (if not more) have been cleaned and/or processed and have poor eye appeal as a result. Examples with natural color and choice surfaces are very rare and only a few truly attractive 1861-O double eagles exist.
This is an exceptional coin with rich natural yellow and green-gold colors accentuated by deeper hues on the relief details. While there are some scuffs on the surfaces, none are detracting and the depth of the color hides the majority of them. The strike is very sharp centrally and weak on the obverse stars which is characteristic of the issue. The eye appeal of this piece is absolutely off the charts and I can only recall having seen one or two other truly original About Uncirculated examples. In fact, I will go out on a limb and call this coin the single most cosmetically appealing 1861-O double eagle to come on the market for many years.
A number of interesting auction sales have occurred in the past few years. A decent PCGS AU50 brought $51,406 as Stacks Bowers 3/15: 2593 while an average quality PCGS AU53 without a CAC sticker realized $58,750 as Heritage 1/14: 5525. The last two AU55 examples to sell, both of which were very underwhelming in my opinion, sold for $76,350 (for an NGC coin) and $70,500 (for a PCGS coin); these sales both occurred in 2014.
I have many clients who have been searching for years for the right 1861-O double eagle for their collection.
Mintage: 846,710
The 1858-S is one of my favorite San Francisco Type One double eagles. Most examples of this issue are dull and lackluster with excessive abrasions on the surfaces. The 1858-S is one of the few San Francisco double eagles from this era whose rarity in higher grades has not been totally changed by shipwrecks. It is plentiful in the EF grades and available even in the lower AU grades. But it is very scarce in properly graded AU55 to AU58 and quite rare in Mint State. The present example is probably the single nicest "slider" 1858-S double eagle I have seen in the last few years. It is nearly fully lustrous and it displays lovely rose, green-gold and orange hues, in slightly different configurations, on the obverse and reverse. The obverse is slightly abraded and shows a few luster breaks in the fields; the reverse is clean, choice and would grade MS62 or so on its own accord.
Mintage: 16,767
The 1874-CC is the most obtainable Carson City eagle from the 1870's. It is also the only date that is within the price range of the collector on a somewhat limited budget and this has always endeared this issue to me. This example is choice and original with nice dark green-gold and orange hues that are contrasted by deeper highlights. The surfaces retain a bit of luster and are lightly marked. This is unusual for the date as many 1874-CC eagles are very "choppy" and are unappealing as a result. The value of the 1874-CC jumps considerably in the next grades up with AU50 Trends at $9,500 and AU55 Trends is a whopping $16,000. That makes nice EF45's an especially good value.
Mintage: 6,764
This coin has recently returned from a century-long European Vacation and it is very attractively toned with medium orange-gold and rose centers framed by fiery coppery-red peripheries. Unlike many of these Euro coins, this piece does not have black smudges on the high spots and there is plenty of luster intact on the obverse and reverse. Only 6,764 were produced and most survivors are well worn with EF40 to EF45 being the typical level of preservation. The 1882-CC is scarce in properly graded AU53, rare in AU55 and very rare in AU58.
Mintage: 1,855
The 1869 eagle is an incontestably rare issue in all grades. My best estimate is that there are fewer than four dozen known and most are in the VF to EF range. As this series becomes more popular with collectors, I think there will be fewer and fewer sleeper dates like the 1869.
Mintage: 6,870 / 50 proofs
Only 6,870 business strike 1867 half eagles were produced and this date is scarce in all grades with probably no more than five dozen or so known. Most are in the VF-EF range and of the dozen or so coins that I can recall having seen in AU holders, nearly all were very abraded and showed zero in the way of originality.
Mintage: 22,410
The 1873-CC is a scarce issue in all grades. It is most comparable in rarity to the 1872-CC and I believe it is around the seventh rarest of the 19 double eagles produced at the Carson City mint.
Mintage: 817
There are exactly five Liberty Head eagles with mintage figures of fewer than 1,000 business strikes. The 1877 is the most “common” of these, but a slightly higher survival rate than the other Philadelphia rarities of this era (the 1873, 1875 and 1876). There are probably not more than four dozen or so in all grades and most are in the EF45 to AU55 range. This date is characterized by ugly, deeply abraded Prooflike examples of which this piece is most clearly not. It is very reflective but far less marked than usual and it shows superb deep coppery-rose color with vivid flashes of orange-gold at the edges. It is lightly worn and well detailed with great overall detail.
Mintage: 4,430
After the Big Five dates (1881, 1882, 1885, 1886, 1891) the 1892 is the undisputed next rarest Philadelphia Liberty Head double eagle of the Type Three design. Only 4,430 business strikes were produced and there are fewer than 200 known today.
This date is generally found in the EF45 to AU55 range and seldom with natural color and choice surfaces. This very attractive "slider" is one of the few circulated 1892 double eagles that I have seen which hasn't been processed or severely abused when transported to Europe. It has lovely medium honey-gold color and nearly full luster with no real wear, just some "bag friction" on the cheek of Liberty. There are some minor scuffs on the cheek and in the left field but the overall eye appeal is excellent and this coin is probably nicer than nearly all of the slabbed MS60 and MS61 examples of this date.
Mintage: 13,180
A bit lightly struck as is typical for the issue. This date is scarce in all grades. Unlike the more common CC double eagles of this era, there is a big price jump on the 1878-CC going from EF45 to About Uncirculated.
Mintage: 5,908
The 1870-CC is the single rarest Carson City eagle in terms of overall rarity. Only 5,908 were made and an estimated 50-60 are known today with most in the F-VF range. Properly graded EF examples are very rare and most of the coins I have seen in 40 and 45 holders in the last decade have been processed and heavily abraded. The present example is one of the two or three finest EF’s I know of.
The obverse and reverse show very attractive natural russet-gold color which is the exact “right” shade for the issue. Some luster can be seen in the protected areas and the strike is slightly better than average with only minor weakness in the centers. The centers are better than average for the date and grade. There are a few very light ticks in the obverse fields which are mostly hidden by the depth of the aforementioned color while the reverse is very choice except for a small mint-made spot which can be seen just above the top arrowhead. Some dirt can be seen in the recesses and the overall level of eye appeal is really high.
his is an issue whose rarity and fame transcends its origin. It is famous for being the first the first year of issue for a Carson City Liberty Head eagle and the single most desirable of the 19 eagles made at this facility.