Half Eagles of the Reconstruction: Philadelphia
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Why No Motto Philadelphia Half Eagles May be the Best Value in Today's Dated Gold Market
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I have written these words before but I still feel that the No Motto Philadelphia half eagle date run, issued from 1840 through 1865, contains a number of under-appreciated issues. These issues clearly don’t include the 1862-1865 which are now in strong demand due to their Civil War issuance, but which do include nearly all the dates made between 1840 and 1861.
Read More1874 $5.00 PCGS AU53
/This scarce and underrated issue has fewer than 100 known survivors from an original mintage of just 3,400 pieces. Most 1874 half eagles are in the EF45 to AU55 range and I have personally only seen one that I regard as Uncirculated (a PCGS MS63 that is ex Bass 2: 1194). This semi-prooflike example has the luster and body of an AU55 to AU58 coin but it shows typical abrasions in the fields. Both sides are reddish-orange in color with the reverse border deepest in hue. There are many excellent values in the Liberty Head half eagle series and a coin like this, at under $2,500 for a nice AU example, certainly qualifies as such.
