$1 Gold Type 1-Liberty
Chief Engraver James Longacre used his daughter as the model for
Miss Liberty. The Type 1 gold dollar is the smallest size U.S. gold
coin. They were minted from the time of the California Gold Rush
(1849) through 1854. Small denomination gold coins weren’t
hoarded or saved to the extent that larger denominations were, so
fewer have survived in choice condition.
This continues
as the only coin type, either gold or silver, with across the
board BUY recommendations – MS 63 (94), MS 64 (84), MS 65
(90), MS 66 (86), and MS 67 (84). All have unchanged CoinStats
rating points, but there is a double digit change in value for
MS 63 off $132 (14%).
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$1 Gold Type 2-Indian
Negative public reaction to the minute size of Type I gold dollars,
resulted in the slightly larger (but same weight) Type 2. Longacre’s
daughter was again the model, however she now wears an Indian
headdress. This type was minted for a brief 2-year period, and
is the rarest of all U.S. gold type coins.
No rating changes
and virtually no price changes.
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$1 Gold Type 3-Indian
The Indian head on the Type 2 coin was considered too small. So
Longacre once again made modifications, which were kept until
this denomination was discontinued in 1889; size and weight were
unchanged. Most mintages were quite small, averaging only 3,000
- 6,000 per year.
Impressive 4 out
of 5 Mint Sates rate a BUY – MS 63 (unchanged at 90), MS
64 (unchanged at 86), MS 65 (unchanged at 82), and MS 66 breaking
through at 80 (up 4). The only flag is raised for PR 67 –
a BUY (continuing at 80 points). Price changes are modest, except
for MS 64 losing $98 (10%), and PR 65 shedding $1,507 (15%).
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$2 1/2 Gold Liberty
This design, by Christian Gobrecht, was issued unchanged from
1834 through 1907. The only notable variety in the series was
created when 1,389 1848 coins were punched "CAL" above
the eagle, signifying that they were minted from gold received
from Col. R. B. Mason, Military Governor of California, shortly
after gold was discovered.
There are two recommendation
changes – MS 66 breaks into BUY territory, increasing by
4 CoinStats points to 82, and PR 66 gets out of the SELL cellar
by advancing 4 points to 50. The only other change is MS 65 up
4 points to merit an even stronger BUY flag (84). Values are on
a downward trend, with MS 63 off 9%, MS 64 diving 10%, PR 65 down
7%, and PR 66 losing 6%.
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$2 1/2 Gold Indian
This coin type, together with the $5 Indian, are the only U.S.
coins with an incused design. The Indian, eagle and all inscriptions
are sculpted below the coin’s surface, instead of the normal
raised designs. Because of the unusual design technique, it is
difficult to grade these coins accurately, and acquiring certified
specimens is a must.
CoinStats ratings
are unchanged, with MS 65 and MS 66 retaining their strong BUY
flags (90 and 96 points, respectively). Prices too, are static.
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$3 Gold Indian
When the government reduced postage rates from 5 cents to 3 cents
in 1853, it was felt that a three dollar coin would encourage
and facilitate postage transactions. But they did not prove popular
with the public from the time they first appeared in 1854. The
series lasted only until 1889, with generally tiny mintages ranging
from 1,000 to 7,000.
Up 4 points each
are MS 64 (to 64) and PR 64, retaining its SELL flag with 46 CoinStats
points. An upward movement of 2 points just lifted PR 63 out of
SELL territory (to 50 points). Prices are relatively unchanged
across the board.
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$5 Gold Liberty
In addition to creating this design, Christian Gobrecht’s
artistry can be seen on almost every United States coin denomination,
ranging from half cents to $10 gold. This type comes in two varieties
- Without motto (1839-1866) and With motto "In God We Trust"
(1866-1908).
Two BUYs (MS 66
and MS 67) are unchanged at 82 and 80, respectively, while the
third (MS 65) advances by 4 to 84. The other flagged grade (PR
64) is up by 4, but remains a SELL (44 CoinStats points). Values
show double digit losses, -16% for MS 63, -15% for MS 64, -10%
for MS 66; but Proof prices are static.
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$5 Gold Indian
Incused design gives the appearance of relief, although the design
actually lies entirely below the coin’s surface. These are
among the most desirable US gold type coins produced in the 20th
century.
No point-change
worth mentioning, and the single flag raised for this type
continues to be a BUY for PR 63. Price changes are small, although
MS 63 has a double digit loss (-16%).
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$10 Gold Liberty
The $10 Gold Liberty was struck from 1838 until 1907. CoinStats™
only rates the second variety, with the motto "In God We
Trust," minted from 1866 through 1907. Earlier coins are
exceedingly rare in uncirculated condition.
Mint State CoinStats
ratings are up 4 points almost across the board – MS 63 (to
72), MS 64 (to 70), MS 65 (to 86), and MS 66 (to 92). There are
still three BUY flags raised – MS 65, MS 66 and MS 67 (unchanged
at 80 points). Proof ratings are the same as the previous report.
Notable price losses occur for MS 63 (-9%), MS 64 (-20%), and
MS 66 (-9%).
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$10 Gold Indian
An outstanding design created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the
same time as his memorable "Saint-Gaudens" $20 coin.
These were minted in only 15 of the 26 years the series existed.
There are two varieties - No motto (1907-1908) and with the motto
"In God We Trust"on the reverse (1908-1933). The CoinStats™
rating covers all dates in this series.
BUY ratings continue
for MS 65 (up 4 to 88) and MS 66 (unchanged at 82). Mint State
prices are on the downside, with MS 63 off 10%, MS 64 slipping
14%, and MS 66 losing 12%. Proofs are basically unchanged in ratings
and values.
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$20 Gold Liberty
This is the largest gold denomination that ever circulated in
the United States. Again, Chief Engraver James B. Longacre immortalized
his daughter’s features. Three varieties were produced -
No motto (1850-1866), With motto "In God We Trust" and
the denomination abbreviated TWENTY D. (1866-1876), and With motto
and the denomination spelled out fully TWENTY DOLLARS (1877-1907).
Only the latter two varieties are included in CoinStats™,
since the earliest coins are extremely rare in premium quality.
Type 1
Because of the large quantity of Type 1 coins that have entered
the marketplace as a result of the Brother Jonathon Auction, this
type was added to CoinStats in the previous report. This time
we add MS 65 since it now meets our requirement for a population
(certified by NGC and PCGS) of 20 or more (actually 79 pieces).
Thus, there are now two BUY recommendations, for MS 64 (80 points)
and MS 65 (82). The populations of MS 63 and MS 64 continue to
explode as more Brother Jonathon coins are tabulated; the pop
of MS 63 jumps from 260 to 374 (+44%), and MS 64 pop is up from
162 to 257 (+59%); however prices are holding steady.
Type 2 CoinStats ratings are unchanged,
with MS 63 at 74 and MS 64 rated a BUY at 84. Prices are basically
unchanged.
Type 3 Retains 2 BUYs – in MS 65
(up 4 to 84) and MS 66 (unchanged at 96). Proof ratings are as
steady as a rock. Prices are down for MS 64 (-14%) and MS 66 (-14%),
while Proofs show only tiny variations.
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$20 Gold Saint-Gaudens
This is considered America’s most beautiful coin. Not surprisingly,
these are among the most popular gold coins with collectors and
investors. It was designed by America’s greatest sculptor,
Augustus Saint-Gaudens, at the personal behest of President Theodore
Roosevelt (whose inauguration medal he had designed). There are
three varieties - the High Relief, minted only at the beginning
of 1907, No motto (1907-1908), and with motto "In God We
Trust" (1908-1933). We rate only the latter two varieties
in CoinStats™.
Virtually no changes
in rating points for the No Motto type, but two Motto
types were up by 4 points each – MS 63 retains its SELL flag
at 40, and MS 67 attains an 80 rating to merit a BUY recommendation.
Serious price drops are noted for both types in MS 66 (each off
11%) and MS 67 (each losing 13%). All grades of the extremely
rare Motto type matte proofs are unchanged.
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