Some very rare U.S. coins...if you can have one freebie which one would you pick?

I was in D.C. last week and these were some of the rare coins on display at The Smithsonian.

 

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The 1804 class 1 dollar.

I'm just not into gold, and the Class II and Class III dollars are just restrikes made to try and sell to collectors. The class I was a deliberate official diplomatic specimen strike.

 

I'll go a different route and say the 1822 $5. I like that design and will look into why they melted all but three of them down. Maybe debt repayment, what a novel idea!

edit - composition changes of 1834 is why they melted them down. How odd that they still had the entire mintage 12 years later? That doesn't make any sense. I must be reading this article wrong, or they are presenting it incorrectly.

Either way, I will still stick with the 1822 Half Eagle. Especially one of the two Smithsonian pieces, as the only private piece is XF/AU at best (from the Pogue collection).

edit2 - Now this is even more confusing. This PCGS article shows the Pogue example as being in better condition than the two Smithsonian examples. @Dancing Fire is that 1822 $5 Uncirculated from your recollection? It sure looks like it.

 

I think I'll take the 1822 $5. I'll bring a crowbar next time I'm in DC to, uh, liberate it.

 

1933 St Gaudens all the way, baby

(We were there a few months ago... small exhibit, but I loved it! Makes me wonder what they have "in the back" ;-)

 

Its not pictured but if we are talking Smithsonian, id want the 1849 double eagle. Go big or go home lol

 

I want that 1822 half eagle.

 

Without a doubt the coin in the Smithsonian is a MS62 coin with lots of lusters.

 

The 1933 Saint would grade MS66 on the front side.

 

It's neat to see pictures of such high grade rarities raw. It's pretty refreshing, actually.

 

I would think the Smithsonian would have a better way of mounting coins than using those prongs.

 

I wonder if it's because the Smithsonian coins have been cleaned in the past? I recall stories of where the old Mint Cabinet was heavily cleaned periodically to remove tarnish and such and their methods destroyed the surfaces of the coins for the most part.

So in our technical terms and grading of today the Pogue may be be a problem free XF whereas the Smithsonian example is an UNC that's been harshly cleaned.
I don't know. Just spitballing here.

 

of those shown i'd pick the 1828 proof, its unique!

 

5 dollar 1822. Because it would be nice to add a gold piece to my silver, and I like the story behind this one.

What I really want is a high graded 1916 D Mercury.

 

I've always been a big fan of proofs, so of the ones shown I'd definitely go with the 1828 proof. It being unique just adds to the interest!

 

The mint didn't have the coins they were out in circulation, but once the content changed in 1834 the older coin were worth more as metal and the old coins were melted down by jewelers and others in order to sell the gold in the market for a profit. While everyone focuses on the "only 3 known" 1822, the other half eagles of that design (with the exception of 1820) also have extremely small numbers known as well.

 

I was saying 1822 Half Eagle before I saw the picture. I would love to have seen that coin in person. Dancing Fire did you donate your MoD Set, you know, it being the coin of the century and all.

 

1822 $5.00 please! It's delish!......

 

The 1804 dollar--I would keep it briefly and then sell it.