Our Blog

1879-O $10 Gold Liberty Population Report

2019-09-09T10:40:00-05:00

Mintage: 1,500

Total Population: 89

Smithsonian Example: AU55

Overall Rarity Rank: 2^nd

Production of Eagles ended at the New Orleans Mint in 1860 and did not resume until 1879. In 1879, only three denominations of coins were struck, silver dollars, Eagles, and Double Eagles. The 1879-O Eagle is an extremely popular issue with collectors because it is the first New Orleans Eagle struck with the motto “In God We Trust”. Only 1,500 Eagles were struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1879 and less than 100 coins are known today. When available, the 1879-O is normally seen in AU50 to AU55 condition. Population reports show just 14 AU58 examples, however I believe that number is inflated due to resubmissions. There are only 3 coins known in Uncirculated grade, a NGC MS60, a NGC MS61, and a PCGS MS61.

PCGS MS61 Example of the 1879-O $10 Gold Liberty

The History of The Indian Head Quarter Eagle

2019-08-20T14:46:00-05:00

Beautiful, unique, and rare are all words that have been used to describe the $2.50 Indian Head Gold Piece. However, one must not forget the historic importance of a coin that may have not had even existed if it wasn't for the assassination of President William McKinley.

President William McKinley

On September 6, 1901, with a pistol in hand, a crazed anarchist named Leon Cozlosz fired two shots into the chest of President William Mckinley. On September 14, just two weeks after the shooting, President McKinley died from the wounds left by Leon Cozlosz's bullets. After the death of President McKinley, a young hard-charging Vice President in Theodore Roosevelt was quickly thrust into the office of the presidency. This moment would not only change the history of our nation, but it would forever change American coinage.

President Theodore Roosevelt

During his presidency young Theodore Roosevelt accomplished many tasks such as the building of the Panama Canal, creating a world-renowned naval fleet, and stamping out yellow fever in several countries. Then, when Roosevelt won the presidency outright in 1904, he set out on a journey to redesign American coinage. This period would become known as the "Golden Age" of American coinage as it forever changed the way individuals, and other nations viewed American currency.

Sculptor and Coin Designer - Bela Lyon Pratt

It was Boston sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt that had the daunting task of redesigning our nation's $2.50 gold piece, which had stood unchanged for more than 40 years. A pupil of famous designer Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Pratt based the design of his $2.50 Indian on the "standing eagle" motif found on the reverse of President Roosevelt's unofficial Inaugural medal designed by famous designer and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

The design of the $2.50 Indian set itself apart from all precedents in U.S. currency. Its design is unique unto itself and the main devices and legends are sunk into the gold rather than raised like the circulating coins of today. This incuse, or sunken relief, design is only featured on one other U.S. coin, the $5 Indian Head half-eagle, the $2.50 Indian Head Quarter Eagle's big sister. A proud war chief in full war bonnet is surrounded by the word "Liberty" and thirteen stars are featured on the front of the Indian Head Quarter Eagle. The reverse, or back, of the coin portrays Pratt's "standing eagle" as it sits perched atop a branch just below the words "United States of America".

Among its release, the $2.50 Indian was reviled, not only by the public who feared its recessed design would collect and spread germs but by numismatist who scorned the artistry of its design. Very few people saw the $2.50 Indian as a noteworthy, unique and historical, coin back in the early 1900s. As a result, few took the time to store them away for safekeeping, which in turn lead to few examples surviving the ravages of time in high, collector preferred, conditions. With time, the $2.50 Indian has gone from outcast to artifact of the early 20th-century and its rarity and historical significance are primary reasons why the Indian Head Quarter Eagles are highly sought after by coin collectors worldwide today.

The $2.50 Indian was first released by the U.S. Mint for circulation in 1908 and were struck in extremely limited numbers up until 1929. The $2.50 Indian Head Quarter Eagle circulated across the United States when the first ball drop in New York's Time's Square, during the hustle and bustle of the roaring '20s, and even during the beginning of the great depression. Since 1929, when the U.S. Mint halted production of the Indian Head Quarter Eagles, no other U.S. coin has bared the $2.50 denomination making the Indian Head Quarter Eagle the last $2.50 coin in American history.

$10 Liberty Gold in MS64

2019-05-06T10:10:00-05:00

$10 Liberty gold coins in near-gem Mint State 64 condition are one of the best gold buys on the market right now. Not only do these coins have a large gold content, but the $10 Liberty gold coins are genuinely scarce in this high of a grade. With the extremely low premiums right now they are truly one of the best values in classic gold coins. Even the famous numismatist and co-founder of PCGS David Hall has said: "It’s almost like going out on the street and getting free gold.”

If you look at combined population reports from NGC and PCGS only about one-half of a percent of all the $10 Liberty gold coins struck, have survived in near-gem Mint State 64 condition. Because these coins are so scarce, prices in a typical bull market, when demand for gold is high, are much higher.

Twice since 2008, $10 Liberty Head gold coins in this grade have traded for more than $2,900. In near-gem Mint State 64 condition, these coins have tremendous upside potential.

Proof 70 American Gold Buffalo

2019-05-02T08:30:00-05:00

In 2006, the United States Mint introduced its first ever 24 karat .9999 fine gold coin, the Gold American Buffalo. Each year the United States Mint produces these highly popular coins in circulating bullion versions and a limited number of Proof versions of this classic design. The Gold American Buffalos have a face value of $50 and contain 1oz of pure 24 karat gold. However, in 2008, the United States Mint did issue Buffalos in 4 sizes, including the $50 one-ounce, the $25 half-ounce, the $10 quarter-ounce and the $5 one-tenth ounce.

Proof coins are struck in limited quantities exclusively at the West Point Mint and offer a higher level of detail as well as a brilliant mirror-like finish suitable for any U.S. gold collection. Only a tiny percentage of the Proof Gold American Buffalos struck achieve a perfect Proof 70 grade.

Certified Proof 70 Gold American Buffalos are the preferred choice for both collectors and investors of American gold coins. Not just because of their beautiful finish and classic design, but their flawless condition and rarity make them some of the more desirable gold coins in the marketplace. Furthermore, since they are valued for their rarity, not their weight, they are not subject to the ups and downs of the commodities market which has made their value more stable over time.

2009 Ultra High Relief

2019-04-26T10:56:00-05:00

The 2009 $20 Saint Gaudens Ultra High Relief gold coin is one the most iconic coins ever struck at the United States Mint. It's a coin that put the United States Mint's talents on display for not only the Nation but the entire world. This coin's unique ultra high relief strike and sheer beauty have made it one of the most beloved gold coins by collectors worldwide. This is definitely a must-have coin for any true collector.

Many people believe this coin was made to commemorate the Ultra High Relief pattern piece design by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1907. However, the coin actually replicates and commemorates the 1907 High Relief Piedfort, a priceless experimental pattern coin that is about the size of a classic $10 Eagle but twice as thick. Piedfort is a French term that means double the thickness. America liked the idea of a smaller but thicker coin so much that it tried to copy French coinage.

Unfortunately once the minting process began the dies kept breaking which in turn made striking this type of coin not feasible. It's reported that eight of these experimental Ultra High Reliefs were produced. Two of these were retained in the Mint Cabinet Collection and are now in the Smithsonian National Numismatic Collection. The other six were destroyed.

With the advancement in technology, in 2009 the U.S. Mint was able to strike 114,427 pure .9999 fine 24 karat gold versions of the double-thick Ultra High Reliefs as part of the American Eagle program. Today, flawless MS 70 versions considered "must-haves" by investors and collectors of American gold coins. Proof-Like (PL) and Deep Proof-Like (DPL) examples are very rare and are highly sought after collector pieces.

A Rare, Yet Affordable Coin from the Civil War

2019-04-16T11:41:00-05:00

Most of the 1861 $2.50 Gold coins you will come across feature what is called the "new reverse." In 1859 the reverse dies on the $2.50 Gold Liberties were changed slightly. Most of the coins struck between 1859 and 1861 were struck using this new reverse die. However, a small number of coins were struck using the old reverse dies. Hence the name "Old Reverse."

Experts at PCGS estimate that there are less than 100 surviving examples of the 1861 $2.50 with the Old Reverse in all grades. Although PCGS population reports show that PCGS has certified 88 coins in all grades, many believe this number is slightly inflated due to resubmissions.

Interestingly, PCGS scores this coin as an 8.0 on the PCGS Numismatic Rarity Scale. The Rarity Scale converts the survival estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimals). The higher the number, the rarer the coin. A score of 8.0 on this scale is incredibly high especially for a coin at this price point. As a comparison, the famed 1911-D $2.50 Gold Indian scores just 3.4 on this same scale.

This particular example is 1 of just 12 coins PCGS has graded Choice About Uncirculated AU-55. As you can see this is also one of the nicest AU55 examples you can find. This coin has the look of an AU 58+ as it still has a lot of original mint luster.

When we came across this coin, we knew we had to have it. We know how rare it is just to be offered an Old Reverse $2.50. Notably, the only one struck during the Civil War. Who knows when the next time we will see another one again?

The Stock Market Will Crash

2019-04-03T10:56:00-05:00

It amazes me how many people love to buy precious metals when metals are at or reaching all-time highs. Furthermore, those same people when metals feel undervalued, they stay away from them like the plague. Its because we, as humans, tend to live in the now.

I remember back in 2011 when Silver made its incredible run up to $49 per ounce we couldn't keep enough silver in stock and our phones wouldn't stop ringing. Every news station was talking about silver, and everyone wanted silver.

During all this hype around silver, one of our long-time customers approached us about buying a monster box (500 oz) of Silver American Eagles, and we did everything we could to talk him out of it. Silver, at the time, was over $48 per ounce which means he paid about $26,000 for that monster box of Silver Eagles. Today, a monster box can be purchased for less than $10,000. When silver was trading at $26 an ounce, this same guy wouldn't give silver a thought.

My point is that too many people fail to take advantage when precious metals or rare coins are undervalued. They get stuck looking at a little segment in time rather than looking at the big picture.

News flash, the stock market will collapse. This rip-roaring economy will eventually stop. Maybe not tomorrow or next year, but we are not going to live the rest of our lives in a bullish market.

Now, I'm not a "doom and gloomer." I'm just very practical. I know that precious metals enjoyed an 11-year bull market from 2001 to 2012. And now the stock market has been bullish for several years now, but that will eventually come to an end.

When this happens, all the money is going to start to flow to safe-haven assets like precious metals and rare coins. And when it does, prices will rise. If you really want to "win" at the precious metals game, take advantage of the market when most people have their attention elsewhere. That's it. It really is that simple.

So I implore you, recognize the opportunity that's in front of you today and take action. Focus on the big picture. Now is the time you should start stacking!

U.S. Mint 2019 Bullion Sales Report

2019-03-26T14:59:00-05:00

US Mint 2019 Bullion Sales

United States Mint bullion sales as of March 26, 2019. Below is a sales breakdown of U.S. Mint bullion products with columns listing the number of coins sold during varying periods.

U.S. Mint Sells Out of Silver American Eagles

2019-02-26T10:14:00-06:00

The U.S. Mint announced Thursday, February 21, that inventories of the popular 1-ounce Silver American Eagle have been depleted. The U.S. Mint has sold over 6 million Silver American Eagles since the beginning of this year which is the best start since 2017.

Market fluctuations have resulted in a temporary sellout of 2018 and 2019 silver bullion. Production at the Mint’s West Point facility continues, and when sales resume, silver bullion will be offered under allocation," United States Mint spokesman Michael White said in an email statement. "The Mint is working closely with its suppliers in order to meet the demand of its authorized purchasers."

Collectors and investors can expect the premium (the price individuals pay over spot) on Silver American Eagles to increase while this temporary shortage continues.

Exclusive First Release

2019-02-14T13:22:00-06:00

EXCLUSIVE FIRST RELEASE

2019 1oz Silver American Eagles NGC MS 70

LIMITED EDITION / ANNA CABRAL Signed

Today - Aerlooms will begin releasing the very first 2019 1-ounce Silver American Eagles certified in perfect MS70 condition and signed by the 42nd Treasurer of the United States, Anna Escobedo Cabral. U.S. citizens can now start acquiring these Limited Edition 2019 Silver American Eagles at the incredible introductory price of only $59.00 each. Each coin is certified by the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC) in perfect Mint State 70 condition, the highest grade a coin can achieve, and each label is hand-signed by former U.S. Treasurer Anna Cabral.

Exclusive First Release

This is the very first release of these brand new Limited Edition Silver American Eagles, and they are available exclusively through Aerlooms. Each flawless Silver American Eagle certification label bears the actual signature of the 42nd U.S. Treasurer of the United States. Authentic hand-signed labels from former U.S. Treasurer Anna Cabral are elusive and are not offered on many U.S. Government issued gold and silver coins. Only 1,500 coins have been allocated for this nationwide release. Due to the small availability and growing demand for signature series Silver American Eagles, a household limit may apply to allow for fair and equal distribution. Orders that are not immediately received or reserved with the order center could be subject to cancellation as supplies will not last long. We hope everyone will have a chance to acquire these Limited Edition Silver American Eagles at this special vault direct price. To avoid disappointment, call Toll-Free 1-877-227-2646 today and reserve your order immediately.

Why Own These Limited Edition Anna Cabral Signed Silver American Eagles?

The Silver American Eagle is the number one best selling bullion silver and numismatic collectible coin in the world. The Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC) gave these coins its highest grade, MS70, on a Limited Edition label hand-signed by former U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral. Don’t miss your chance to own this special Silver Eagle issue.

Proof Palladium Eagle Takes Market By Storm

2018-09-18T15:56:00-05:00

Proof Palladium Eagle Takes Market By Storm

On September 6th at precisely 12 pm eastern time, the U.S. Mint released the first ever Proof Palladium Eagle coin with a strict one coin per household limit and a maximum mintage of just 15,000 coins. 270 seconds later, it was marked "Currently Unavailable" on the U.S. Mint's website. That means the new 2018-W $25 Palladium Eagle Proof coins were being sold at an astounding rate of fifty-five coins per second! Hands down one of the quickest sell-outs ever seen.

There are plenty of reasons why collectors are going crazy for the newest collectible bullion coin from the U.S. Mint. Obviously, owning the first ever is extremely significant, and its limited 15,000 coin mintage is also very alluring. However, the new Palladium Eagle Proof is one of the best-looking coins of my lifetime (my opinion of course) and demand is high. Granted, the U.S. Mint used the same design from last years Palladium Eagle bullion coin, but seeing this coin in a proof finish really makes the design pop.

The obverse (heads) of this design features a high-relief likeness of “Winged Liberty” from the “Mercury Dime” obverse designed by world-renowned designer Adolph A. Weinman. The reverse (tails) design features a high-relief version of the 1907 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal reverse, also by Weinman, which includes an eagle and a branch. The sheer detail in this coin is absolutely incredible.

The demand for this coin seems to be coming from both sides of the aisle (collectors and investors) as well. Understandably collectors want to own the first ever, and possibly the only, Palladium Eagle proof coin. Collectors also love the artistic design. Palladium, the metal itself has outperformed both Platinum and Silver over the last two years and is now the second most valuable precious metal.

With so many eager buyers and such a limited mintage, prices on the secondary market are rising quickly. Many of the individuals who were lucky enough to purchase these coins directly from the Mint have already sold their coins to dealers for a quick 15 to 25% profit. Dealers, like us, can't get enough Palladium Eagle Proof coins to feed the demand from current customers.

It's up to you as a collector to decide if this coin should be apart of your collection. This coin has it all, first year of issue, high-relief design, and low mintage and I believe the collectors of the future will see the 2018-W $25 Palladium Eagle Proof coin as one of the more important modern coins of this era.

Traditional or Roth IRA… Which is right for you?

2018-07-11T13:37:00-05:00

Traditional or Roth IRA… Which is right for you?

Most people are aware that there are two different types of IRAs an investor can choose, Traditional or Roth IRA. Its important to know which type of IRA best suits your own individual needs.

Traditional IRAs allows investors to put pre tax, or tax deductible, money into their IRA. This money can be invested into any asset of their choosing, including gold, silver, and platinum. This money can then grow over time tax-free, and upon retirement age, which is currently 59.5, the investor can start to withdraw from their account without penalty. However, the investor will have to pay taxes on the withdrawn money based on their current tax bracket.

One distinct advantage for individuals who contribute money to a traditional IRA is that they may be able to lower their tax bracket because IRA contributions are tax deductible. Traditional IRAs also allow you to invest more money because taxes are not deducted from the original investment capital.

A traditional IRA also offers individuals to make early withdraws (up to $10,000) without penalty in the event of unusual circumstances such as a first time home purchase, or medical bills.

Roth IRAs allows investors to put post-tax money into their IRA. The money invested can grow over time tax-free, and upon retirement age (59.5), the investor can begin to withdraw money from their account without penalty and without taxation as long as the account has been open for at least 5 years.

Other benefits of Roth IRAs are that investors who are over the age of 70.5 can still contribute to their IRA and ROTH IRAs do not have Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) like a traditional IRA.

The general rule is this, Traditional IRAs are typically best for individuals who anticipate their tax rate at retirement to be lower than their current rate and ROTH IRAs are typically best for those who believe their tax rate at retirement will be higher than their current tax rate.

If you are looking for help opening or rolling over an IRA into a Precious Metals IRA, call 1-877-227-2646 and ask to speak to our IRA department. We can help answer any questions you may have about Precious Metal IRAs.

Could Platinum Increase 700% Over the Next Decade?

2018-07-05T10:26:00-05:00

Platinum is a rare metal, 30 times rarer than gold and yet it is still the third most traded precious metal in the world.

Historically, gold trades at around 80% of platinum prices but in today's market platinum is trading for less than gold. This is a tremendous buying opportunity as history tells us that it won't stay that way for long. But it's not just history telling us platinum prices should trend higher over the next five years, the supply and demand forecast points strongly to higher platinum prices in the years to come.

Platinum demand is expected to increase significantly over the next five years with added demand coming from the medical industry. Yes, I said medical industry.

Most of the demand for platinum comes from the automotive and jewelry sectors which account for about 75% of the annual demand for platinum. As of late platinum has been seeing an increase in demand from the medical sector. Most people are unaware that platinum is used in drugs to treat cancer. Two of the most popular drugs are called cisplatin and carboplatin that treats testicular cancer, ovarian, breast, and lung cancer tumors.

Today, roughly half of all cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are treated with platinum-based cancer-fighting drugs. In 2010, the medical industry used approximately 175,000 oz of platinum, and it is forecasted that the demand could exceed 235,000 ounces in 2019. This would be a 34% increase in demand from just in the medical sector since 2010.

Here is where it starts to get really interesting. The chart below provided by goldchartsus.com, is a chart of platinum prices since 1970. There is a green "prediction" band around the price and as you can see, we are clearly on the lower end of that range.

The last time platinum prices were in this "buy zone" was in the 1990s when platinum was just $350 per ounce. Platinum prices rose by 700% over the next decade.

Now, do I think the price of platinum is going to increase by 700% over the next decade? Although I have read countless articles that have made bold predictions about how platinum could rise as much as 700% in the coming years, I'm not on board that train.

I do however think that platinum is exceptionally undervalued and $1,600 platinum is a real possibility. If platinum were to get back to the $1,600 per ounce level that would be an 83% increase from today's prices, which I think is a little more realistic.

Think about it. Usually, gold trades at about 3/4 the price of platinum. That would mean that at today's gold prices platinum should be trading north of $1,500. So in my opinion, it's clearly undervalued. Couple that with increased demand and falling platinum supplies and it's a very logical conclusion that platinum prices should trend higher over the coming years.

But in reality, I'm a coin guy. And I know if the price of platinum starts to catch up to the price of gold as it should be, this will bring an influx of new collectors into the market. Platinum as a metal is rare, but platinum coins are considerably rarer. Any increase in demand on the coin collector side could cause a tremendous upswing in platinum coin prices, more specifically Platinum Eagle prices as they are the most widely collected platinum coin in the world.

So just how rare are Platinum Eagles? In 2017, the United States Mint struck 228,500 $50 1 oz Gold American Eagles compared to only 20,000 $100 1 oz Platinum American Eagles. This is just one example, but as you can see the majority of the U.S. Mints efforts are put into producing gold coins.

The open market supply for Platinum Eagles is low. Very low. As collector demand rises the only way to entice coins out of these collections is to raise bid prices.

Smart collectors and dealers recognize that now is the time to start acquiring platinum coins. There is a reason why the prominent players, including us, are actively seeking top quality platinum coins and that's because we know prices are at or near the bottom. It's the perfect opportunity to buy.

For the umpteenth time, I'll repeat that many people buy coins today in hopes to sell them in the future at a much higher price. That buyer will probably be an anxious investor who, in a crazed market environment, must have that coin.

We are focusing on low mintage, low populated issues that are hard to find now and will be exponentially harder to find when the market heats up. It's a powerful strategy that has put countless individuals in handsome positions during past platinum bull markets.

Attractive Low-Minted Platinum Eagles See Increased Demand

2018-06-06T10:24:00-05:00

From 2006 to 2008, the United States Mint offered a second numismatic version of the American Platinum Eagle. These coins were referred to as collectible uncirculated versions, although many collectors refer to them as Burnished Platinum Eagles. These coins were sold directly by the US Mint to collectors in a fashion similar to the collectible proof coins. The unexpected and somewhat obscure offering experienced low sales, which translated into attractively low mintages.

The collectible uncirculated Platinum Eagles are created through a specialized minting process. Burnished coin blanks are hand fed into specially prepared presses one at a time. The burnished Platinum Eagles are also differentiated from bullion versions by the use of the annually rotating reverse design, also used on the proof versions, and the appearance of the “W” mint mark. The coins were available in four different sizes ranging from one-tenth ounce to one ounce, packaged and sold individually or as part of a four-coin set.

At the end of 2008, the US Mint announced the discontinuation of the collectible Uncirculated Platinum Eagles. This was done as part of a broader realignment of the entire numismatic portfolio. The briefly issued “burnished” Platinum Eagles now represent a unique three-year subset of the series, which has garnered a specialized following in recent years.

Recently we have seen increased demand for these low-minted "W" Mintmark Platinum Eagles. With their short three-year lifespan combined with their extremely low mintage, these coins continue to become more difficult to acquire as collectors and investors alike continue to dry up the open market supply.

We have just recently acquired one of the best “W” Mintmark Platinum sets ever released, the 2007-W 4pc Burnished Platinum Eagle in NGC MS70 Early Release. Only 481 sets could possibly be assembled in perfect NGC MS 70 Early Release.

This set will not last long!
Call 1-877-227-2646
to secure this hard to find set

The Last $10 Gold Coin Struck At The New Orleans Mint!

2018-05-22T09:25:00-05:00

The 1906-O eagle is the last $10 gold coin ever struck

This date is much more scarce than many individuals, including dealers, realize. In fact, it is actually the scarcest 20^th century $10 gold coin struck at the New Orleans Mint.

As a company we have very few opportunities to purchase 1906-O $10 gold pieces, even in lower grades. When we are fortunate enough to locate one, it typically sells very quickly.

It’s been since June of 2016 since a MS-61 example was seen in a public auction!

The 1906-O has an original mintage of 86,895 coins and only 709 are known today in all grades. In MS61 NGC and PCGS have certified a combined total of just 155 coins.

This NGC MS-61 example is the first 1906-O $10 gold coin we have had in months!

Call today for more information!
1-877-227-COIN
1-877-227-2646

Rare Double Eagle Sells For More Than $200,000

2018-05-14T15:00:00-05:00

Proof $20 Liberty Head gold coins, known as double eagles, have always been a favorite of affluent collectors and investors of original U.S. gold coins.

At the Central States Numismatic Show, an 1883 double eagle certified by PCGS in Proof 64 Deep Cameo sold at auction for $204,000. A significant sale considering the last 1883 double eagle in PCGS Proof 64 Deep Cameo sold for $158,625 in August 2014.

Much like the famous 1895 Morgan dollar, which is known only through proof strikes, no 1883 double eagles were produced for circulation at the Philadelphia Mint. 1883 double eagles are highly sought after issues as they are the only double eagles struck in Philadelphia in 1883.

The 1883 double eagle has a proof-only mintage of just 92 coins. However, it is believed that just 40 of those were released to collectors. Today, I believe there are less than 25 coins known to have survived in all grades, including two at the Smithsonian's National Numismatic Collection and one at the American Numismatic Society.

Important Press Release from Aerlooms!

2018-05-14T09:06:00-05:00

Press Release May 14, 2018

Finest Surviving Morgan Dollar Example Just Acquired

PORT ARTHUR, Texas (May 14,2018) --- Aerlooms, a leading dealer in rare United States issued coins, announced the acquisition of an 1881-S (San Francisco) Morgan Dollar certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) in near flawless Mint-State (MS) 69 condition. This is a significant acquisition as this is one of the finest surviving Morgan Silver Dollar examples known.

Rare coins are certified on a scale from 1 to 70, with 70 being reserved for only absolutely flawless coins. Very few pre 1933 era coins ever achieve the status of MS-69 grade and no pre 1933 era coin has ever achieved a perfect 70 grade.

“This coin is virtually in the exact same condition as the moment it came off the coin press in San Francisco in 1881” Aerlooms Vice President and Numismatic Director said.“There is no way this coin ever saw circulation. This coin was somehow set aside and passed down from generation to generation completely unscathed. It truly is a remarkable piece.”

In 1881, the San Francisco Mint struck more than 12 million Morgan silver dollars and this example is the only one ever graded by NGC in MS-69 grade.

This coin is now a key piece in The Cherry Villa Collection, a prestigious collection of Morgan silver dollars assembled by a long-standing client of Aerlooms.

Aerlooms has been a leading national dealer in rare U.S. gold and silver coins since 2003. For additional information visit www.aerlooms.com or call 1-877-227-2646.

Jordan Gonzales | Marketing Director

409-963-0107

Jordan@aerlooms.com

Coin Image:

1845-O 84/84 $10 Gold NGC AU 53 VP-003

2018-03-23T13:39:00-05:00

1845-O 84/84 $10 Gold NGC AU 53 VP-003

Original Mintage: 47,500
Population ALL GRADES: 24 (VP-003)
Population AU53 VP-003: 13/5

The 1845-O eagle has an original mintage of 47,500 coins. Today, NGC and PCGS combined have certified just 410 coins in all grades.

Interestingly, the 1845-O eagle is just one of three No Motto eagles from the New Orleans Mint that the Smithsonian does not have an example of in its famed collection.

This issue is typically found in VF (Very Fine) to XF (Extra Fine) grades. It becomes difficult for collectors to acquire in AU (About Uncirculated) grades and nearly impossible in Mint State grades as there are just 11 coins known.

This example is a repunched date variety certified by NGC in AU53 grade. It is 1 of just 24 coins NGC has certified as a repunched date variety. In this grade, there are 13 examples known with only 5 known finer.

This is one of the nicer examples of this date we have come across in recent years. It is one of a few known examples of this date that has fairly reflective surfaces.

What is a Repunched (VP-003) Variety?

The 84 in the date is repunched downwards.

Take Advantage of a Sleeping Market!

2018-02-05T09:01:00-06:00

Gold American Eagle Proof coins are at the lowest premiums we have seen in years! Savvy collectors, investors, and dealers are taking advantage of this market and purchasing these type of coins at a significant discount. If history teaches us anything, it is that this buying opportunity will not last long as the Gold American Eagle Proof coins are extremely popular and hardly ever trade at a discount.

I believe we are at the beginning stages of a new bull market in gold prices. It is in my opinion that once gold breaks the $1,400 level, it will quickly rise to the $1,500 to $1,550 range. As gold surges, more and more gold buyers and collectors enter the market. With Gold American Eagle coins being the most popular, open market supplies will start to shrink, and that's when I believe we will see prices moving back up to normal levels. However, as of now, the Proof Gold American Eagle coins, especially those in perfect Proof 70 grade, remain incredibly undervalued.

In particular, the first six years of the Proof Gold American Eagle program are always the most popular years in the series as they are the only Gold American Eagle Proofs where the dates are displayed in Roman Numerals instead of the Arabic dating style you see today.

Right now, perfect Proof 70 Roman Numeral Gold Eagles are a steal! Ultra rare issues like the 1990-P $25 Gold Eagle in Proof 70 are very affordable, and in the opinion of many modern coin experts, extremely undervalued. A collector can put together a nice set of Proof Roman Numeral Gold Eagles even on a limited budget. It is a buyers market, and collectors should take advantage of it while they can.

Building Legacies: The Orion Collection

2017-11-14T15:30:00-06:00

The Orion Collection is a well put together collection of New Orleans eagles. Assembling a complete set of New Orleans eagles is not an easy task, and very few collectors can say they have accomplished such a feat. The challenge many collectors face is that many New Orleans issues have extremely low survival rates. Issues like the rare 1883-O, where there are only about 40 to 50 coins known in all grades are very difficult for collectors to locate.

The Orion Collection, however, also features a few Proof-Like coins that are very elusive and many collectors are unaware that such coins even exist.

So what exactly is a Proof-Like coin?

Business strike gold coins are usually frosty or satiny in texture. Occasionally a group of coins are struck from newly-polished dies, and they show reflective surfaces. These coins are termed as Proof-Like coins by collectors. Proof-Like New Orleans eagles are extremely rare and are highly desirable coins.

The Orion Collection recently acquired a rare 1894-O $10 Gold Liberty in certified AU58 PL (Proof-Like). Its actually the collections third Proof-Like New Orleans eagle.

Of the 107,500 coins originally struck in 1894, only twelve coins have been designated as having proof-like surfaces. In AU58 PL there are just two coins known.

Proof-Like New Orleans eagles don't become available often and when they do they are normally snatched up by eager collectors. In fact, this was the first 1894-O Proof-Like eagle to become available since one crossed the auction block in late 2009. Coins like this can set a collection apart and make the entire collection more desirable. The Orion Collection is a collection that will always be known as a collection of quality.

Historic Gold Coins Resurface - 1895-O $10 Gold Liberty

2017-11-06T09:44:00-06:00

It’s no secret that the $10 gold coins minted at New Orleans are scarce. However, despite their scarcity, some dates appear to be dramatically undervalued.

One date in particular that stands out is the 1895-O $10 gold coin.

The New Orleans Mint struck just 98,000 $10 gold coins in 1895. A minuscule mintage especially when compared to the $10 gold coins minted at Philadelphia.There are several years where the main Mint in Philadelphia struck well over one million $10 gold coins, and some years they even struck more than two million of the $10 gold pieces.

Today, only about 1.5% of the $10 Gold Coins originally struck in 1895, at the New Orleans Mint are known to have survived today in all grades. And just like other $10 gold coins struck in New Orleans, only a small percentage of the surviving population is known in uncirculated grades.

We have recently discovered a small group of 1895-O (New Orleans) $10 gold coins all certified by PCGS in Brilliant Uncirculated MS 61 grade. This is a very exciting find as only 329 coins have been certified by NGC and PCGS combined in MS 61 grade. In fact, the Smithsonian’s National Numismatic Collection’s 1895-O example is also in MS61 grade.

The 1895-O $10 gold coin in MS 61 grade is a phenomenal value. The most common date $10 gold coin available, the 1894 Philadelphia issue, has over 19,000 coins certified in MS 61 grade. This makes the 1895-O nearly 60 times rarer than the 1894 in this grade. However, the 1895-O can be purchased for less than a 50% premium. That’s quite impressive.

You start to understand just how undervalued the 1895-O $10 gold coin is when you compare it to the 1891-CC (Carson City) $10 gold coin.

Both coins are similar in mintage. The 1891-CC has an original mintage of 103,000 coins, and in MS61 grade NGC and PCGS have certified 1,047 coins, which is more than three times the amount of 1895-O $10 gold coins certified in the same grade.

After looking at all the numbers, one would assume that the 1895-O $10 gold coin would be vastly more valuable than the 1891-CC $10 gold coin in MS61. However, that is definitely not the case. The 1891-CC in the same MS 61 grade would cost a collector double the price.

I believe the 1895-O $10 Gold Liberty in MS 61 grade is one of the most undervalued dates in the entire $10 Liberty gold series. For less than a 50% premium over an ultra-common date $10 gold coin, you are getting a truly rare coin that typically carries a much larger price tag.

Building Legacies: The Cherry Villa Collection

2017-10-10T13:52:00-05:00

The Cherry Villa collection is a masterful collection centered around the always popular Morgan Silver Dollar. Although this collection consists of other U.S. coin series, the main focus, and passion for the collector who has built this important collection is the Morgan Silver Dollar series.

Every Morgan Silver Dollar in this collection was hand-selected for its premium eye-appeal. The Cherry Villa is a collection that emphasizes quality. Even the common date Morgan Dollars in this collection are uncommonly choice for the grade.

Just like every great collection, this collection has something a little extra that makes it stand out.

One of the cornerstone pieces to the Cherry Villa's Morgan Dollar collection is a rare 1879 Morgan Half Dollar, which is certified by PCGS in Proof 65 Cameo.

The Morgan Dollar is one of the most revered and vastly collected coins ever struck, yet even with the droves of active collectors in this series, very few have ever heard of the Morgan Half Dollar.

For Morgan Dollar specialists, obtaining the design type in a Half Dollar is a considerable prize.

Only ten are believed known to exist in all grades combined, and this is among the nicest we've ever seen. Gorgeous blue and purple iridescent toning evenly grace both sides of the coin.

Having this rare Morgan Half Dollar makes the Cherry Villa collection one of the most unique and desirable collections of Morgan Dollars assembled.

Affordable Yet Scarce New Orleans Half Eagle

2017-10-03T10:27:00-05:00

The New Orleans Mint struck two different types of $5 gold coins with the Liberty Head design during the 1800s.

The first and most popular are the ones struck before the Civil War that do not have the Motto "IN GOD WE TRUST."

In total, the New Orleans Mint struck $5 Gold Liberties without the Motto for just 12 years.

It is important for collectors to understand that 99.5% of the original $5 gold coins minted at New Orleans have been lost, damaged, or melted down. This makes the few that have survived extremely scarce.

Take for instance this beautiful 1844-O $5 Gold Liberty certified About Uncirculated AU53 by PCGS.

In 1844, the New Orleans Mint struck 364,600 coins. However, just under 1,100 coins are known today in all grades. That means that just about one-third of one-percent of the original mintage is known to have survived today. In AU53 grade there are just 122 coins known between the two major grading services.

No Motto $5 Gold Liberties from the New Orleans Mint are tough to find in About Uncirculated grades, especially at this very affordable price point.

It's Not Always About Low Mintage

2017-09-29T14:47:00-05:00

Sometimes novice collectors get sucked into the low mintage hype. Series like the First Spouse Gold Coin series has produced some of the lowest minted gold coins in the last 100 years. However, just because a coin is “rare” (i.e., low minted), it doesn’t make it valuable.

To better explain this, I will compare a low-minted First Spouse Gold coin and a relatively low-minted Silver American Eagle.

The 2011-W Eliza Johnson First Spouse $10 Gold Coin has an extremely low mintage of just 2,915 coins and contains a half-ounce of pure gold. Even with gold north of $1,300 per ounce, astute collectors can locate this coin in a perfect MS70 for around $1,000. That’s just a modest premium over its melt value.

On the other hand, let's look at a 1995-W Silver Eagle Proof. The 1995-W Silver Eagle has an original mintage of 31,000 coins and contains just one-ounce of pure silver. In flawless PR70 grade, 1995-W Silver Eagles can fetch close to $20,000, and a PCGS example has sold for as high as $90,000.

Why such a dramatic difference in price even though the First Spouse coin is over ten-times rarer by mintage? Simple, demand for the Silver Eagle series is much greater than the demand for the First Spouse series. Silver American Eagles have an enormous collector base in the U.S. and abroad whereas the First Spouse Gold Coins seem to fail to connect to people.

When it comes to acquiring coins for your set, it's best to look for coins that are and will be in great demand. These types of coins typically hold their value better and appreciate faster than other coins that are not as popular. Coins like the American Eagles, Morgan Silver Dollars, $10 Gold Liberties, and $20 Gold Liberties are wildly popular coins that have huge collector bases. When trying to decide what to collect, take into consideration whether or not that series has a large enough collector base to support the market.

Congratulations to the ELLE COLLECTION!

2017-09-21T11:36:00-05:00

Congratulations to the ELLE COLLECTION on adding this superb Type 1 No Motto New Orleans Gold Eagle!

1844-O $10 Gold Liberty AU 53 A+
Mintage: 118,700
Population (all grades): 593
Population AU53: 80

In 1844, the New Orleans Mint struck 118,700 $10 gold coins, and today just 593 coins have been certified in all grades. That's just one-half of one-percent of the original mintage that is known to have survived.

In AU53 grade, NGC and PCGS combined have certified just 80 coins. 1844-O eagles are typically found in Very Fine to Extra Fine grades. In About Uncirculated, this date is quite scarce.

Most 1844-O eagles are found with heavily abraded surfaces. However, this example is a premium quality example with very clean surfaces.