Judd-1591, High R-6, Low R-7. Copper, Reeded Edge. The famous “Washlady” design attributed to Charles Barber. It’s interesting to look at this superb design and compare it to the tired regular issue Seated quarter that, by 1879, was well overdue for a change. It is also interesting to compare Barber’s Washlady design with the plain and frankly boring design that would grace the quarter (plus the dime and half dollar) in 1892. The present example is very reflective with intense violet and sky blue toning below brown overtones. There is a small lighter area on the reverse at the right talon that serves as quick identification. The only PR64BN example of this design to sell in recent years was the inferior Heritage 4/09: 3550 which was housed in an NGC holder and which brought $8,625. This piece is far more attractive and it would make a great addition to a collection whose emphasis is beautifully designed, famous prototype issues.

While not the rarest gold dollar from this mint, the 1855-O is the most popular and the most numismatically significant as it is the only Type Three issue from New Orleans. The 1855-O dollar is common in all circulated grades and it is only moderately scarce in the lowest Mint State grades. It becomes scarce in MS62, rare in MS63 and very rare in MS64. I am not aware of any Gems and I doubt if there are more than five or six properly graded MS64 examples; nearly all of which are off the market in advanced specialized or type collections. The present example is among the choicest, freshest 1855-O dollars that I can recall having seen. It is extremely frosty and overlaid with attractive natural light orange-gold color that turns slightly reddish towards the obverse border. The strike is slightly better than average for the issue with good detail at the centers and a nearly full date with the exception of the 8 which is slightly weak. There are just a few minor luster grazes in the left obverse field but nothing in the way or marks or hairlines and this is a lovely original piece that has never been cleaned or dipped. There are auction records as high as $37,375 for MS64 examples of this date as recently as a few years ago (Heritage 2008 ANA: 1877). This is an important coin for the New Orleans specialist or the advanced gold dollar collector.

Star Designation The 1841-C is among the rarest Charlotte quarter eagles in higher grades. In fact, after having bought and sold more high grade coins from this mint than anyone I have handled exactly one in Uncirculated: the ex Pittman PCGS MS62 that I bought at auction in 2007 and placed in the finest collection of quarter eagles ever assembled. The present example is undoubtedly in the top ten known for the issue and it certainly has exceptional eye appeal, as indicated by the star designation assigned by NGC. The surfaces are very lustrous and covered with lovely natural deep reddish-gold color. There are some old hairlines on the obverse and reverse that are hard to see unless the coin is tiled towards a light source and the strike is very sharp and even. NGC has only awarded the star designation to two Charlotte coins and it is easy to see why they were so smitten with this piece as it is really lovely.

Ex Heritage 3/09: 2591 where it brought $8,625

Winter Plate Coin. This exact coin was used to illustrate the date on page 66 of the third edition of my book on Charlotte gold coinage. The 1842-C is the rarest quarter eagle from this mint in higher grades. It is exceedingly rare in Uncirculated with just three known to me (including one amazing Gem graded MS65 by both PCGS and NGC). I estimate that there are around 12 to 16 known in all AU grades combined and very few rate higher than AU55 to AU55. The present example is solid for the grade and among the nicer examples of this rare date that I can recall. It shows attractive medium to deep reddish-gold color atop somewhat lustrous surfaces. The strike, as always, is blunt on the stars and the portrait but a bit sharper at the centers than usual. There is a noticeable mark on the reverse in the field between the back of the eagle’s neck and the word OF. Unless you are very patient and very deep pocketed you are unlikely to locate a better 1842-C quarter eagle than this.

ex Heritage 5/07: 24904 where it realized $9,025

The Philadelphia quarter eagles from this decade tend to be very overlooked but they are (with the exception of the 1845) rare in Uncirculated. There are probably fewer than a dozen 1846 quarter eagles known in Uncirculated and the finest of these, last sold as Heritage 9/03: 7704 for $21,850, was purchased by me and placed in finest collection of quarter eagles ever assembled. I have seen four or five examples in MS61 holders and none are even close in quality to the piece I offer here. It has superb frosty luster and lovely natural orange-gold color. A few tiny marks keep this out of an MS62 holder but it is fresh, original in appearance and clearly among the finest known. Personally, I prefer this coin to the PCGS MS62 that Heritage sold as Lot 2608 in their March 2009 auction (at $10,925). If you are an advanced date collector of Liberty Head gold coins, you’ll realize the importance of this offering.

BD-1, Rarity 4. Pointed 6 with the obverse stars arranged 8×5. Varieties of 1806 half eagle are known with a Round 6 and a Pointed 6. The latter is considerably more scarce despite the fact that it sells for a reasonably small premium. I have long believed that the 1806 Pointed 6 is a very underrated issue, and the fact that it is easily distinguishable from the other variety by the difference in star placement makes it numismatically significant. This example is very lustrous for the grade with enough of the orginal surface present to suggest an AU55. Both sides are a light green-gold hue and the strike is typical for the issue with some weakness at the central obverse that does not fully correspond to the reverse. There are a few light reverse adjustment marks that run horizontally through the shield; these are hard to see with the naked eye and do not detract. It has become very hard to find nice quality middle grade early gold of late as most of the nicer coins are placed in tightly-held collections. I think this coin is very pleasing from an aesthetic point of view and it is good value as you are getting a scarce distinct naked-eye variety for less than a 10% premium over the common 1806.