U. S. Coins

Candidate for Finest 1841-C $5.00

Lot 895
1841-C. NGC graded MS-61. A splendid well struck example with none of the problems usually associated with coins struck from this Southern Mint. The stars are completely defined and the undisturbed borders are nice and wide. The cheek and neck on Liberty are as smooth as a baby's and this specimen shimmers with semi-reflective mint surfaces. Expect lots of competition on this little treasure. NGC population reports only 4 in this grade with none higher. Color photo.
Estimated Value $14,000-16,000.

Important 1842-C Small Date $5

Lot 896
1842-C. Small date. PCGS graded AU-53. Well struck with nice, original toning and luster. Thankfully, this coin has not been "dipped out" as have so many of the Southern gold pieces (a travesty that has altered completely original coins just to get a higher number on a holder)! PCGS reports 4 in this grade and 8 finer, the best of which is an MS-62. The low mintage for the Small Date 1842-C (approximately 4,595 pieces) resulted when the obverse die broke early in the coining process. The very last coins from the die show a neat "cud" break at 12:00. From there, the process of attrition began and the number of pieces that have survived until today is indeed small. In fact, the 1842-C Small Date Half Eagle is the rarest and most valuable C-Mint $5 across the board. It is the key to the Charlotte Mint Half Eagle set. Here are some recent comparables: Harry Bass' PCGS AU-53 sold for $41,400 in May 2000; an NGC AU-55 brought $43,700 in a 1998 sale; a PCGS AU-58 realized $77,625 in a 1999 sale; and an NGC graded AU-58 sold for $51,750 in our February 2001 sale. Clearly, this example represents a nice balance between high grade and high value -- it's one of the nicest examples known, yet it's affordable by comparison. Color photo.
Estimated Value $32,000-40,000.

Finest Known 1843 Half Eagle

Lot 897
1843. NGC graded MS-65. Notable not only for its bright yellow luster and remarkable eye appeal, but it is also the finest example of the date graded by either NGC or PCGS! That's a pretty impressive fact, considering we've had 17 years of third-party grading and all sorts of incredible collections coming onto the market. After all these years and all the possibilities, this Gem stands alone waiting for your bid. Consider also that NGC has graded only 29 MS-65 No Motto Half Eagles since its inception! Color photo.
Estimated Value $30,000-35,000.

Mint State 1846-C $5 Liberty

Lot 899
1846-C. MS-60. A full Mint State piece with the luster and sunny yellow color of a Choice example, but downgraded because of a tiny group of marks between the D of UNITED and the eagle's wingtip. Well struck and still a remarkable example of a date that rarely appears in Mint State.
Estimated Value $14,000-15,000.

Exceptional 1847-0 $5.00

Lot 900
1847-O. NGC graded AU-55. A pleasing strike with a good amount of luster still present and free from serious marks or nicks. Slight greenish color gold adds to its appeal. A very rare coin in high grade, prohibitively so above extremely fine. Population of only 4 with 1 higher in AU-58. Color photo.
Estimated Value $13,000-15,000.

The Key "O" Mint $5

Lot 901
1847-O. NGC graded EF-45. A decent impression from the dies and struck on a problem-free planchet. No discernible marks or scratches of note, just some light friction, all lightly toned. This is the rarest issue half eagle from this mint and is seldom seen in grades above very fine. NGC reports only 4 in this grade with 11 higher, the finest being AU-58.
Estimated Value $5,500-6,000.

Finest 1848 Half Eagle Graded by NGC

Lot 902
1848. NGC graded MS-65. A well struck Gem with some of the most impressive luster you will ever see on a No Motto Half Eagle. This is the finest example graded by NGC and it stands alone at this grade level. No other competition. Beautiful, yellow color and rich, shimmering luster. Unimprovable at present and clearly superior to anything graded by PCGS, as well. Color photo.
Estimated Value $35,000-40,000.

Tied for Finest Graded 1855 $5.00

Lot 903
1855. PCGS graded MS-64. Slanting 55's. Well struck and very frosty with light delicate toning. Although a healthy quantity of business strikes were made this year, few were saved from circulation and high grades examples are seldom encountered. PCGS reports only 4 in this grade, none higher .
Estimated Value $17,000-20,000.

Impressive 1857-D $5.00

Lot 904
1857-D. NGC graded MS-61. A somewhat shallow strike on the lower obverse date area, otherwise a decent impression with the reverse being particularly bold. We note some scattered light handling marks on the obverse, commensurate for this numerical grade, yet with more than enough mint luster to easily justify this lofty grade. Population of 9 with only 4 higher, all by a point. Color photo.
Estimated Value $10,000-12,000.

Tied for Finest Known 1858-S $5.00

Lot 905
1858-S. NGC graded AU-58. Well struck with some scattered light handling marks evenly spread about, none of which are worthy of note, and plenty of mint luster remains about the protected areas of the devices. Another rare date that is seldom encountered in grades higher than very fine. This example is tied for Finest Known. Population reports but 3 in this grade, none higher.
Estimated Value $10,000-11,000.

Marvelous 1859-S Half Eagle

Lot 906
1859-S. NGC graded AU-58. A very pleasing well struck example with a nice clean cheek on Liberty. This piece still retains plenty of mint luster with a hint of light olive overtones about the protected areas around the borders. A decidedly rare low mintage date that is nearly impossible to locate in high grade as most were spent and those saved show plenty of wear. Population reports but 8 in this grade with 1 higher, that being in MS-62. Color photo.
Estimated Value $10,000-12,000.

Splendid 1860-C $5.00

Lot 907
1860-C. NGC graded MS-61. Well struck with a nice deep impression and none of the planchet flaws sometimes seen on this issue. Some scattered hairline scratches can be seen under magnification when tilted towards a light source, but overall, a phenomenal high grade example that is seldom offered better. Population reports only 7 in this grade with 6 higher.
Estimated Value $10,500-12,000.

Choice 1860-C $5

Lot 908
1860-C. NGC graded AU-58 Ashland City. A better than average strike for this notorious rusty, flat and weakly struck issue. The mint luster easily justifies its lofty grade. Population of 12 with 13 higher.
Estimated Value $7,200-7,500.
Ashland City Collection.

Conditionally Rare 1865-S Half Eagle

Lot 909
1865-S. MS-60. Soft pinkish-gold on the obverse, while the reverse has some scattered flecks of orange color. Nice luster, lightly abraded surfaces. A classic condition-rarity in the No Motto Half Eagles series, as only a handful of Mint State examples have been certified by NGC and PCGS combined.
Estimated Value $7,000-7,500.

Tied for Finest Known 1867-S $5.00

Lot 910
1867-S. NGC graded AU-58. Well struck in pale yellow gold with no distracting marks worthy of note. A scarce date that is seldom encountered in grades about Very Fine. Population reports but 2 in this grade with none higher.
Estimated Value $11,500-12,500.

Splendid 1867-S $5

Lot 911
1867-S. NGC graded AU-53. A better than average strike for this issue, as some are mistaken for a Philadelphia coin because the mint mark is so weak, not this one. Lightly toned about the protected areas of the devices. Usually found only in the lower grades. This is a very high grade specimen as there are no known uncs. Population of 5, 2 in AU-55 and 2 in AU-58.
Estimated Value $9,500-10,500.

1870-S $5 Liberty

Lot 913
1870-S. NGC graded AU-53. A normal strike for this somewhat softly struck issue. The friction is evenly distributed with light contact marks scattered about on both sides. Light golden-orange in color and lightly toned. Usually found in low grade, this date is prohibitively rare in extremely fine or better as is confirmed by the population reports. Population of 2 with 6 higher, the finest being AU-58.
Estimated Value $6,000-6,500.

Second Finest 1871-CC $5 Liberty

Lot 915
1871-CC. NGC graded MS-61. Soft, subtle luster, some minor surfaces abrasions on both sides. A remarkable, extremely important coin from a popular mint and a long and popular series. The 1871-CC Half Eagle is tough in any grade -- most of the known examples grade EF or worse. AU examples are extremely rare and Mint State examples are represented by only two pieces, this being the second finest of the two (the only better one is a single NGC MS-63). To date, PCGS has graded NO Mint State examples of the date. A fabulous opportunity for the CC gold specialist. Color photo.
Estimated Value $35,000-40,000.

Candidate for Finest Known 1874-S $5.00

Lot 918
1874-S. NGC graded AU-58. A decent strike with attractive golden-orange mint luster. Some light to moderate handling marks appear in the unprotected fields, but none by themselves is too troublesome for this high grade. Although 16,000 were struck, a fair mintage for this time period, this issue is prohibitively rare above very fine and when Breen published his Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins in 1988, this date was unknown in AU! This example is tied as finest graded by either service. Weak mint mark. Population of 2 with none higher. Color photo.
Estimated Value $10,000-11,000.

Very Rare 1876 $5.00

Lot 919
1876. NGC graded MS-61. A stunning high grade example of this popular rarity. Boldly struck throughout including full definition within all the stars. Rich coppery-golden in color this beauty shimmers with semi-reflective mint luster. A popular rarity that boasts of one of the lowest mintages in the entire half eagle series. Population of only 2 with 7 higher, the finest being a MS-64. Color photo.
Estimated Value $9,000-10,000.