Scarce 1904-S Barber Half Dollar NGC MS62

From a small business-strike mintage of 533,038 pieces, the 1904-S Barber half dollar is an underrated key and one of the most challenging issues of the series in high grade. Q. David Bowers notes the population data for this issue is inflated by resubmissions and crossovers and Mint State examples are much more elusive than those figures indicate.

The NGC population is 3 with 12 graded higher.

Listed at $17,500 in the PCGS price guide.

Offered at $14,625

Gem 1854 Type Two Gold Dollar NGC MS65

The 1854 Type Two gold dollar is one of the two most plentiful issues of the Small Head design. The design change in 1854 accompanied a reduction in planchet thickness that allowed the Mint to make this small coin 2 mm larger in diameter. However, the thinner planchet also caused strike problems, and the Type Two design was quickly replaced in 1856 with a lower relief Liberty portrait.

Type Two gold dollars in Gem condition are scarce and highly sought-after.

The NGC population is 23 with 14 graded higher.

Listed at $20,700 in the CDN CPG and $25,000 in the PCGS price guide.

Offered at $21,100

1870 Liberty Eagle NGC AU58

A run of low-mintage run of Philadelphia eagles kicks off with the 1870 issue, followed by the rare 1871, 1872, and 1873 dates. In the case of the 1870 ten dollar the mintage of only 3,900 is actually a good indication of this issue’s rarity. It is rarely seen in AU condition and only one coin is known in mint condition (an NGC MS60).

The NGC population is only 12 with 1 graded higher – an MS60 example.

Listed at $16,800 in the CDN CPG and $16,250 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $11,900

Stunning 1902 Morgan Dollar NGC PR67+

Proof 1902 silver dollars, as with all proof coins struck in that year, were produced with a no-contrast finish, as the Mint altered its die-making process for proof issues. As a result, proof 1902 dollars are extremely rare with any degree of cameo contrast. Collectors instead usually strive to acquire the finest possible non-Cameo for their collections. This particular example exhibits lovely original toning and a stunning overall appearance.

The NGC population is 2 with 6 graded higher.

Listed at $17,500 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $12,375

Pop 1, None Graded Higher 1889-S Liberty Eagle NGC MS65

From a mintage of 425,400 pieces, the 1889-S Liberty eagle is not too difficult to locate in lower circulated grades but Choice examples are rare. Writing all the way back in 2006, Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth remarked:

“MS-64 examples are very rare and the finest certified example is a single PCGS MS-65 coin, which has yet to appear on the market.” The current PCGS population report shows one MS65+ example, (but no MS65’s) with none higher. For its part, the NGC population is 1 with none graded higher.

Listed at $54,000 in the CDN CPG and $69,000 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $35,750

1908-D With Motto Saint Gaudens Double Eagle NGC MS66

Despite objections from President Theodore Roosevelt, Congress mandated that the motto IN GOD WE TRUST be added to the Saint-Gaudens double eagle and other U.S. coinage. While Roosevelt felt the motto distracted from the Saint-Gaudens design, he yielded to public outcry and Congressional will. All of the 1908 With Motto twenties (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) are scarce in Gem Uncirculated condition and rare any finer, although the 1908-D Motto benefits from several high-grade examples found in Central America in 1983.

The NGC population is 10 with 9 graded higher.

Listed at $30,000 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $23,050

Only 3 Graded Higher – 1886 Morgan Dollar NGC MS68

The 1886 is a plentiful Philadelphia Morgan dollar issue with a mintage that approaches 20 million coins. Dave Bowers describes the distribution of 1886 dollars in his Silver Dollar Encyclopedia: “Quantities of 1886 dollars were released by the Treasury over a long period of years, with a large number coming out in 1951, 1952, and, especially, December 1954.” Even more were released during the early 1960s, further contributing to the date’s availability. And this issue is widely recognized for its collectibility in high grades. That includes coins in MS66 and even MS67. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, availability is much more limited in this ultimate grade.

The NGC population is 41 (two of which have been designated “Star”), with only 3 MS68+ representatives graded higher.

Listed at $14,400 in the CDN CPG and $16,500 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $7,300

Only 1 Graded Higher – 1941-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar NGC MS67

The 1941-S is the key issue from the “short set” of 1941 to 1947 Walking Liberty halves. The wartime West Coast issue is less rare than its reputation in grades through MS66, but Superb Gems, such as the one offered here, are unquestionably rare relative to Registry demand for the popular series. The NGC population is 52 with a single (MS67+) example graded higher. Listed at $38,400 in the CDN CPG and $15,000 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $8,500

Only 2 Graded Higher – 1854 Arrows Seated Liberty Quarter NGC PR65

All 1854 Seated Liberty quarters show arrows at the date to signify a weight change in the denomination that was instituted the year before. The 1853-dated quarters also displayed a glory of rays on the reverse, but that feature was eliminated in 1854 because of striking problems and die breakage. The Arrows design was continued in 1855, then eliminated, creating an extremely popular two-year subtype.

Accounts of the precise rarity of the 1854 Arrows quarter proof issue vary to a certain extent, but all agree that it is very rare at a minimum, with no more than 12 to 15 known (according to David Akers, writing for the Pittman catalog in 1998) or around 10 (according to Walter Breen). PCGS CoinFacts estimates 10 to 15 pieces known.

The NGC population is only 2 with 2 graded higher.

Listed at $21,600 in the CDN CPG and $25,000 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $21,900

1908 Indian Half Eagle NGC MS66

Collectors will find the 1908 to be among the most plentiful Indian half eagles in Gem and better condition, even while some other dates such as the 1909-D are more available overall. The higher Gem population of the 1908 is due to the first-year-of-issue status of this date, which historically resulted in more widespread preservation of examples due to the novelty of the new design. Even so, the 1908 Indian is conditionally rare in MS66, and just a handful of finer pieces are known.

The NGC population is 14 with 7 graded higher.

Listed at $24,000 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $20,300