bborus's Coin Album
Ex D.L. Hansen. A slippery west coast issue., this scarce Mercury dime issue is elusive in fully struck near-Gem or finer condition, and the present piece is an exceptional example displaying brilliant, satin luster with lovely peripheral iridescence. An original and distinctive Gem dime, suitable for the finest set thanks to its exceptional eye appeal.
Ex Richmond Collection (NGC Cert# 1716019-043), Ex Pelican Bay Collection (NGC Cert# 1716019-043). Coin was graded MS65 at NGC at time of purchase and was down graded to MS64 when sent to PCGS. This example became the 5th graded MS64 at PCGS. Briggs 1-A, Flynn-RPD-001. The 1865-S is a well-known condition rarity in Gem Mint State or finer grades. The mintage was small -- only 41,000 pieces were struck. Virtually all of the mintage circulated in West Coast commerce at a time when silver coins were in extremely short supply. Consequently, even circulated examples are rare in all grades today. The typical surviving 1865-S quarter is well worn, with an average certified grade of just 40.1. This MS65 example is the former Richmond Collection coin and currently serves as NGC Coin Explorer's plate coin. Frosted Gem surfaces display an attractive pearlescent sheen from light-gold toning supported by strong silver luster throughout both sides. The smooth surfaces show only a few faint grazes and no individual marks of note. The 1 in the date is repunched at its base and the strike weakens slightly at 8 and 6, as well as at a few star centers. The surface quality and eye appeal are exceptional. NGC Census: 1 in 65, 1 finer.
Sharp Head and Shield. The first 1 in the date is slightly flat, but Liberty's head and toes, the shield rivets, and all of the other troublesome design elements are sharp. This Choice 1921 Standing Liberty quarter displays satiny luster and light golden toning with prominent clash marks in the recesses of Liberty's gown. A semi key date that is always in demand with Full Head detail.
CAC. The piece shows deeply frosted silver luster with some light developing toning along Liberty's exposed leg and the eagle's forward most wing. The obverse demonstrates some softness along the shield's rivets as normal and features a die crack along the date. Liberty's temple is bold even though the hairline is weak at the ear. At MS66 the date is conditionally scarce, and the coin's allure is bolstered by CAC endorsement.
Delicate champagne toning enhances the eye appeal of this sharply defined Premium Gem Standing Liberty quarter. Both sides exhibit satin luster with brilliant silver surfaces. There are a few small marks on Liberty's leg and gown that prevent a finer grade but they are not distracting. The boldly defined head and shield add to the eye appeal. The 1926 is a plentiful date overall, but it is scarce with Full Head sharpness as fine as MS66.
Ex Towers Collection. Arrows, Minute S, WB-103, Die Pair 3, R.3. A die chip on Liberty's chest and two other prominent lumps in the middle-left (facing) gown folds confirm the obverse, while the Minute S mintmark is high and left of the feather tip. Die cracks at stars 4, 5, and 8 suggest a late die state. Pleasing gold toning envelops the frosty, sharply struck surfaces and reddish-gold accents visit the borders. Scarce at this grade or any finer.
CAC. Like most issues in the Barber series, the 1914-S half dollar is conditionally scarce in Gem condition and rare any finer. This CAC-endorsed coin displays satiny luster with a hint of champagne toning. The eagle's right (facing) talons and the fletchings are a trifle soft, as usual.
CAC. Like most issues in the Barber series, the 1914-S half dollar is conditionally scarce in Gem condition and rare any finer. This CAC-endorsed coin displays satiny luster with a hint of champagne toning. The eagle's right (facing) talons and the fletchings are a trifle soft, as usual.
Trivial marks are noted on the obverse of this lovely Gem, preventing an even higher grade assessment. Both sides are fully lustrous with brilliant mint frost, and delicate champagne toning enhances the eye appeal. Scarce in this grade and rare finer.
CMQ - Exceptional Quality. A brilliant and beautiful example with bountiful mint luster and bold to sharp strike detail. The surfaces are remarkably well preserved and approach perfection for the issue. Production of the 1879-O marked the reopening of the New Orleans Mint following the Civil War. With a mintage of 2,887,000 examples, this issue is readily available overall thanks to the storage and eventual release of thousands of Mint State coins. According to Q. David Bowers in his 1993 silver dollar encyclopedia, the largest releases came in 1957 (five to 10 bags) and during the early 1960s (multiple 1,000-coin bags). As with many Morgan dollars, the 1879-O is rare in the finest Mint State grades, which for this issue means MS-66 and higher. One of the most impressive examples of this New Orleans Mint Morgan dollar that we have offered in recent sales, this coin is sure to appeal to discerning bidders.
The Open and Closed 9s variety, VAM-6 shows a closed left 9 and an open right 9, with horizontal polishing lines at the hair edge below Liberty's ear and at the eagle's right (facing) leg. This Superb Gem is fully brilliant and lustrous with both sides showing satiny, misty-gray luster delivering exceptional eye appeal. The surfaces are unabraded as expected for the high grade, and the devices show excellent design definition with only slight central weakness, as usual. No numerically finer examples have been certified at either service, making this a significant opportunity for Morgan specialists and Registry collectors.
During its first year of operation, the San Francisco Mint produced gold dollars, quarter eagles, half eagles, eagles, and double eagles. While the quarter eagles and half eagles are major rarities, Mint State dollars are also elusive with PCGS reporting only 22 examples finer than this piece (4/25). This sharply defined piece has pleasing yellow luster, has a few grade-limiting marks.
Ex Sand Hill Collection. A very pretty and CHOICE example of this very scarce date. Only 13,000 were struck and only 175 are estimated to survive in all grades, 20 in all Mint State grades (per PCGS CoinFacts). Well struck up with semi-Prooflike, rich orange-gold surfaces. While the initial look is that of a higher grade, close inspection shows some very minor marks consistent with the assigned grade. Coming from a mintage of 13,000 pieces, the 1860-S gold dollar is scarce, and it is underrated -- particularly in Mint State. This MS63 coin is a rarity, with most Uncirculated coins known residing in MS61 or MS62. The strike is razor-sharp, and each side exhibits rich orange-gold patina with faintly reflective fields. Light contact marks define the grade.
Despite the low mintage of just 82,000 pieces, a limited number of high-grade Uncirculated examples of the 1908-S survive. This issue was well-produced by the San Francisco Mint, with generally sharp strikes and fewer handling marks than other S-mint half eagles. Eye appeal is above average on most Choice Uncirculated or finer examples. This smooth and lustrous 1908-S displays all of the positive attributes of the issue, with exceptionally few post-mint distractions. Gleaming orange-gold surfaces flash occasional lilac accents, and the strike is crisp on both sides. Scrutiny with a loupe reveals no significant abrasions or marks on the obverse, and just a solitary carbon fleck (pinpoint in size) on the reverse beneath M in AMERICA. Mint luster flows evenly across the fields and devices.
Although the United States did not enter World War I until April 1917, reductions of gold exports and monetary policy limited the 1914 double eagle production to under 100,000 coins, which were primarily used to back Gold Certificates. About 6% to 10% of the mintage survives today, according to Roger Burdette's research. This near-Gem Uncirculated survivor displays frosty orange-gold color and vibrant mint luster. The strike is bold with minor softness at the torch hand and Capitol building. A few light marks at Liberty's midriff account for the assigned grade. PCGS reports only 61 numerically finer examples, plus another 61 pieces in 64+
Ex Bella Collection. The 1920 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is a famous condition key, plentiful in MS64 but prohibitively rare any finer. PCGS reports only 96 coins numerically superior to the current example (2/24). Original rose-gold and peach-orange color complements satiny luster. Minor abrasions are not bothersome for the grade.
Underrated Issue in High Grade. The 1923 Saint-Gaudens double eagle avoided the Gold Recall mass meltings and most of the mintage found its way to European holdings, where the coins were used in bank-to-bank transfers. Research by Roger Burdette indicates about 59,000 repatriated 1923 twenties exist today. Not surprisingly, the average survivor grades MS62 although present coin is far finer than that -- a splendid MS65 example. It was most likely carefully preserved domestically, perhaps one of the pyx coins obtained from the Mint Cashier, or otherwise obtained from the Philadelphia Mint. Radiant orange-gold color gleams from sharply struck, frosted surfaces. The eye appeal is terrific. PCGS reports only six numerically finer examples, plus 14 pieces in 65+
One of two die pairs of the 1875-S twenty cent piece that earn a place in the Cherrypickers' reference, BF-16 shows the top of a misplaced 7 in the dentils below the primary numeral. On the reverse, the mintmark is boldly repunched. This Premium Gem example is one of the two finest BF-16 coins attributed at PCGS (11/20), and it is conditionally scarce in this grade as a date representative. Only a handful of finer 1875-S twenty cent pieces are reported, all varieties included. This piece is beautifully lustrous and tinted a warm golden hue. Minor strike softness on the obverse stars and Liberty's lap is not bothersome. No major abrasions are seen.
