Lowball US Gold Coins

I used to have an AG-3 slabbed 1846-C $5. It had that nice greenish tinge. I kick myself every once in a while for selling it. Sadly no photo but it earned its grade.

I am thoroughly enjoying this thread Thinking that when I get around to adding some 1882 US gold to the hoard, that going for some lowballs at spot would be a fun way to fill in those holes!

It could be worse, but it's low to me.

Since I took these pictures, I tried to flatten out the coin's bend and dented it up some more in the process...though it is now flat. Pocket wear took off the worst pocket snaggers, from what was probably a ground find.

I have also been working on a slow-moving project to find more lowball rarities. I've managed to pull together all the S half eagles from 1867-1874, plus a few cc's. They're higher quality than the beat up 1859-S, ranging from G up to VF, with several in slabs.

Between 1859 and 1867 the half eagle pickings have been slim and none. Those coins are true rarities and priced accordingly. I've never seen any in lowball condition.

I'm sitting here wishing I could!!

Yes, Bad color from sidelighting. The coin looks like it was hit by a pickaxe or a shovel.

Lowball gold coins - a collecting field I'm glad never appealed to me.

My interest in the lowballs stems partly from my oldest collecting interest, in filling Whitman folders and stamp books. It goes back generations. You felt lucky to just find a coin that filled the hole, no matter what the condition. The rarest holes never got filled and were the big challenge. That 1859-S is far rarer than any of those empty holes in my old Lincoln and Jefferson books. It doesn't matter how pretty it is, it only matters that it is. Finding it was a challenge in itself. There are always pristine examples for sale, but they cost far more than the melt price paid for a true rarity.

Another part of my interest stems from being an executor and selling my dad's lifetime accumulation of mint products. The only ones with any substantial value were gold. I gained an appreciation of the fact that gold coins were an asset. Not necessarily a good investment, but something of value rather than just rarity.

Finally, it's regionality. I grew up with the San Francisco mint close by. It has always had the aura of gold rush, and everything that goes with it.