Another great reason to keep coming back to Rare Gold Coins! Recognized a number of familiar faces and really enjoyed meeting new ones!

What are your thoughts about including images of coins in client collections that you either previously sold @ RGC or bought as agent at auction? Perhaps you could put out a monthly call to your customers for a coin you previously handled, e.g. 1861-S $20, ask them to write to you describing the piece in their collection, then you select the one you’d like to image. Your description might include a backstory on where and how you and your client came to the piece.

Good luck!!

Bill

Some of the early designs are aesthetically challenged, but that only adds to the intrigue. A major case in point would be the capped head half eagles of 1829-34. To my mind, this sub-series is among the most fascinating of all early gold issues. First of all, these did not really circulate because the intrinsic gold value exceeded the face value–an unsustainable situation which I have never fully been able to comprehend. Despite the reduction in diameter (per the close collar & upset rim), the already large head from prior years (1813-29) actually appears broadened, squeezing for space and crowding the stars; the minute reverse lettering in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is also bizarre. Yet another interesting point is that the 1834 capped head issues offer a more masculine Liberty with a prominently rounded jaw–sort of a sub-type within a sub-type. I don’t think this design iteration was discussed at any great length in Dannreuther.

Although not possessing the most elegant or refined artwork, I think the so-called “fat head” half eagles of 1829-34 are really unique and alluring.

To me, the fun of collecting rare coins is to find coins that are truely rare. In many grades, coins like the 1911-D quarter eagle, 1893-S Morgan dollar and the 1890 CC double eagle are simply not at all rare. Another group of coins like, for example, the 1875 gold dollar and 1875 quarter eagle are what I call semi-rare with both major grading services showing in the 60′s and 70′s combined. These two coins do come to auction quite a bit. In addition, I see them at the shows too. Are they really worth the 5 figures (rare cases six!)? I don’t think so! Think how many other gold coins that are much rarer. The 5 and 10 libs have many examples. I would much rather have a nice 1860-S eagle at less cost but twice as rare! Other coins that shock me are the famed 1861-D gold dollar that was just auctioned off as a cleaned and filed coin. It went for 5 fugures. Go figure!!! Some of these over priced coins are beginning to fall back in price. A good example is the 1870 CC Double Eagle. A coin that seems to show up each year at auctions and coins shows. Yes this is a rare coin but not worth a half a million!

Larry Jackson