S.S. Republic pedigree. Small S variety. There are a number of amazing, high grade 1865-S double eagles known from two wrecks: the S.S. Brother Jonathan and the S.S. Republic. I prefer the look of the coins from the latter as the Bro Jo coins tend to have very heavily matte-like surfaces from exposure to seawater while the Republic coins have a far more original appearance. This piece is among the best looking 1865-S double eagles that I have seen with wonderful luster and just a small number of marks on the surface. A small amount of mint-made porosity near star six is what probably caused NGC to be very conservative when grading this coin but it has the naked-eye appearance of an MS64; if not a Gem. There are a total of 51 MS63′s from this wreck for the date but only eleven have been graded higher which makes it a harder coin to find nice than its counterpart from the Brother Jonathan. A perfect coin for the double eagle collector who wants one choice, interesting coin from each of the major shipwrecks.

If you collect U.S. gold coins by type, you probably are aware that the Type Two double eagle is an issue that gets noticeably rarer (and more expensive) as you go up the grading scale. An MS63 will cost you $8,000 or so and I just saw a nice PCGS MS64 trade between dealers at the Denver ANA show in the mid-$30′s. This makes a nice MS62+ a great value and the perfect Type Two type coin for the collector on a budget. This piece has superb deep rich orange-gold color and there are just a few too many tiny scuffs in the left obverse to call it a full MS63 (but, boy, is it close…). NGC has graded just eleven 1875 double eagles in MS62+ with no plus grades higher. Coins like this make a lot of sense to me and I doubt if all but a handful of ultra-savvy collectors could tell the difference between this MS62+ and and MS63 if the labels in the slab were covered.

Only one 1875 double eagle has been approved by CAC that grades higher than MS62+.

As with many of the Philadelphia and San Francisco double eagles made during the first few years of the Type Three design, the 1877 is an issue that is common in circulated grades and not all that hard to find in MS60 to MS61. High end, choice MS62′s are scarce and this date is quite rare in MS63. The combined PCGS/NGC population in MS63 and above is 35 but this is inflated by resubmissions as evidenced by the fact that none have sold at auction in MS63 since April 2010 when an NGC MS63 brought $12,650 in a Heritage sale. This piece is lustrous and choice with good color and a very pleasing appearance. Great value considering the 3x jump to the next grade!

CAC has approved five in this grade with just one finer.

This is a numismatically significant issue as it is the first Type Three double eagle produced. The 1877-CC is scarce in all grades with an original mintage of 42,565. It is seldom seen in the higher AU grades and it is very rare in Uncirculated with most of the Mint State coins not really all that different in appearance than this choice “slider.” This example is totally original with deep, even orange-gold color that is offered some contrast by the high spots. This coin is free of wear but it has just enough scuffs on the surfaces to grade AU58. But that said, there is not much that separates this piece from a $25,000+ MS61 example. Since the summer of 2010, there are ten APR’s for AU58 1877-CC double eagles (seven in NGC holders and three in PCGS holders) with a range of $11,500 to $13,800. I feel that this specific coin deserves to be at the high end of that range given that its a PCGS/CAC example and because it is really, really nice.

CAC has approved six in this grade with just one higher.

The 1890 is one of my favorite “secret” dates in the Type Three series. It is only moderately scarce in MS60 and MS61 grades but it is a tough coin in MS62 and a very scarce to rare issue in MS63 and above. Its also expensive in MS63 with an example costing $8,000-10,000 depending on what it looks like. Which is why I think this high end MS62 is a great value at less than half the price of an MS63. It is totally original with a great “skin” and lovely rich orange-gold color. A few marks on the obverse narrowly keep this coin from an MS63 grade but it is truly high end for an MS62.

CAC has approved eight in this grade and only two finer.

Lustrous and nicely toned with some reddish-gold color on the obverse and deeper, more extensive hues at the lower reverse. For the grade, this piece is very clean and wholesome with minimal wear and the appearance of a full AU58. This is a perfect type coin for the collector who wants a single common date but very cosmetically appealing CC double eagle for his set.

CAC has approved 24 in AU55 with another 27 higher than this.