1860-C $5.00 NGC AU53 CAC

This is the second-to-last half eagle made at the Charlotte mint and it is a scarcer issue in all grades. It is also one of the most crudely made with improperly hardened dies making it appear very worn on the reverse; even on higher grade examples. This piece is one of just a handful of 1860-C half eagles that remain with natural color and it has never been cleaned or dipped like most. The color is an attractive deep, even green-gold with a thin band of contrasting coppery-rose at the border. There are a couple of old marks in the fields that are nicely hidden by the depth of the color and a small horizontal strip in the left obverse field is as made.

1860-C $5.00 NGC AU55

This is exactly the sort of coin that, so many times in the past, has been scrubbed and reholdered by the grading services as an AU58. To my eyes, it is far more attractive (and valuable) as a "virgin" 55. As always, this piece must be graded only by the obverse as the reverse is weak and fuzzy due to improper planchet preparation. Both sides show very appealing medium to deep green-gold color and there is ample dirt in the recesses on both sides. A thin mint-made defect in the left obverse field runs from the denticles between stars one and two towards the chin and is diagnostic to the issue. The 1860-C half eagle is genuinely scarce in properly graded AU55 to AU58 and very rare in Uncirculated. This example is perfect for the date collector but would make a nice type coin as well.