$0.01 1850 Braided Hair Large Cent, PCGS CAC MS65BN.  Large Cents were struck in Philadelphia between the years of 1793 and 1857.  A beautiful example with a needle-sharp strike, rich glossy surfaces, and great eye appeal. Mintage was 4,426,844 and the population for this coin is 157/67. A CAC certified coin.

 

$0.01 1851/81 Coronet Large Cent, PCGS MS62 Brown.  Large Cents were struck in Philadelphia between the years of 1793 and 1857.  An interesting variety for this variety rich series. The overdate is clearly visible with a loop. Brown.

$0.01 1856 Flying Eagle Cent, PCGS PF64 Top 100 #20.

$0.01 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent, NGC MS63 RB Top 100 #19.  The 1909-s V.D.B. penny is perhaps the most famous key date in the Lincoln Cent series. The VDB stands for Victor David Brenner who designed the Lincoln Cent. He put his initials on the reverse of the coin, near the bottom rim but they were so prominent that the public outcry was heard by the mint loud and clear at which time the initials were removed from the design. However, the Philadelphia Mint had already produced over 27 million circulation strikes which had been released to the public. The San Francisco Mint, on the other hand, only produced 484,000 examples before the die change. The small amount of VDB circulation strikes produced in San Francisco elevates the 1909-S Lincoln cent to collector status putting it among the most sought rarities in American numismatics!  

Our coin has a Trends of $2100 and is  graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.

$0.01 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent, PCGS AU58 BN CAC.

$0.01 1922 Lincoln Cent No D, NGC G4 BN.

$0.02 1864 Two Cent Piece Small Motto, PCGS XF45 CAC.   Two-cent copper coins were minted in the United States from 1864 to 1873. Initially, they were produced to replace the eliminated half dime and silver three-cent pieces. They were not popular at the time of production and the mintage steadily declined each year until they were made obsolete in 1874. Designed by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre , it has the distinction of being the first coin of the United States to bear the inscription “In God We Trust”.  Graded by PCGS and CAC certified.

 

$0.02 1865 Shield Two-Cent Piece, PCGS MS63 RB.

$0.02 1870 Two-Cent Piece, PCGS PF66 Red CAC.   Two-cent copper coins were minted in the United States from 1864 to 1873. Initially, they were produced to replace the eliminated half dime and silver three-cent pieces. They were not popular at the time of production and the mintage steadily declined each year until they were made obsolete in 1874. Designed by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre , it has the distinction of being the first coin of the United States to bear the inscription “In God We Trust”.  Trends and Collectors Universe list is $15,000.  One thousand proof specimens were minted in 1870. This coin has a population of 22 with just two coins graded finer. PCGS graded and CAC certified.

$0.03 1862/1 Silver Three-Cent Piece, PCGS MS64 CAC.

$0.05 1794 Silver Flowing Hair Half Dime, NGC VF20.

$0.05 1796 Silver Half Dime "Likerty" Variety, NGC MS61. An appealing example of this scarce die variety. The variety was created by late state dies that left the the top and bottom cross bars in the "B" of Liberty weak and faint creating a curly "k". Traces of gold and turquoise highlight the beauty of this Mint State specimen. The Collector's Universe/PCGS list is $25,500 and the population is 2/20.

$0.05 1867 Shield Nickel With Rays, PCGS PF65. Fantastic quality and eye appeal for the collector as so few of these are known at all, let alone in Gem condition. The toning is glorious with lemon-gold around the obverse periphery while the centers are a deep rose-russet with flashes of teal and gold in the devices. Similar on the reverse where the same colors and intensity are noted over the glassy mirror fields and frosted devices. Specks are at a minimum with just a couple of minute one present, and a strong magnifier is needed to even locate them. One of the finer examples graded of this rare issue, with just three seen finer at PCGS in their Proof category, out of an estimated number known of approximately 60 pieces.

One significant factor is the rarity of these early Shield nickels is the fact that the Rays versions were only struck in 1866 and early 1867. The Rays around the 5 caused the dies to crack early as the hard nickel planchets were difficult to strike up with the complex features of the Rays. By early 1867 the Rays were dropped from future dies for this series, so these early coins became short lived type issues. Gems are the most prized for their quality and eye appeal, and when found with attractive toning really stand out as exceptionally desirable.
 

$0.05 1914-D Buffalo Nickel, NGC AU58.

$0.05 1937-D Buffalo Nickel 3 Legs, PCGS MS65.  The coinage Act of September 25, 1890 stipulated that a coin design must be in existence for 25 years before it could be replaced.  Thus, when Treasury Secretary Franklin Mac Veagh was selected by President Taft in 1909, the only coin eligible for redesign was the Nickel Five-Cent piece. Wanting to leave a lasting impression from his term in office, Mac Veagh ordered the nickel to be changed and bypassed the mediocracy of Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber's previous designs by soliciting a design from reknowned sculptor James Earle Fraser.  The resulting Buffalo design is considered to be the most "American" of U.S. coins, as well as, one of the most beautiful.  Fraser created the obverse design by using three Indian Chiefs as models, and while the image does not represent any one individual, it is unmistakenly Native American. An interesting note is that one of the models was Chief Iron Tail who was General Custer's opponent at Little Big Horn. The reverse image was created using a specific Bison (not Buffalo) residing in the New York City Zoo named Black Diamond.

A complete set of Buffalo Nickels consists of  68 different issues. Of these issues, only two very rare and very costly overdate issues are more valuable than the 3-Legged variety. A combination of mechanical error and production expediency produced this numismatic legend. The mechanical error occurred when a coin blank was not inserted into the coin press before the dies came together to strike the coin. Known as clashed dies, the outcome is a faint impression of each die being imparted on the opposing die. The normal correction for clashed dies is to remove and replace the dies. In the case of the 3-legged buffalo, the pressman, in an attempt to meet production quotas, did not take the time to change out the dies, instead opting to use an emery board to sand off the faint impressions. The pressman performed his task with such enthusiasm, he inadvertently filed the Buffalo's front right leg off of the die. His mistake was discovered only after an indeterminate amount of coins had been produced.

A mistake? Yes, but one that left us with a beautiful and classic American rarity which commands demand from the entire coin collecting community.  Trends is $40,000 and the Collector's Universe list is $42,000. There are only 29 coins graded higher with prices doubling and tripling as the grade ascends.

$0.05 1956-D Jefferson Nickel, NGC MS66.

$0.10 1796 Silver Draped Bust Dime, PCGS VF30 CAC.

$0.10 1870 Silver Seated Dime, PCGS MS66.

$0.10 1873 Silver Seated Dime with Arrows, PCGS MS66 Tied Finest! The arrows were added to this series in 1873 and continued with the 1874 issue to denote a weight adjustment in the coin. A great collector coin for a two-year type! Trends is $8,500 and the Collector's Universe list is $11,000. Tied for finest know with three other PCGS issues and four NGC coins. A gorgeous coin in an second generation PCGS green holder.

$0.10 1878 Silver Seated Dime, PCGS PR66.