1853-D $5.00 PCGS AU58

Large D Mintmark. This choice slider has good luster and pleasing medium orange-gold colors on the obverse and the reverse. The strike is somewhat above-average for the issue with less beveling at the rims than usual but some overall bluntness at the centers and on the radial lines of the stars. There is just the slightest amount of friction seen on the high points of the obverse; the reverse is fully Uncirculated and grades MS61 or better on its own. The fields are a bit scuffy with a few shallow marks seen on both sides. The 1853-D is among the more available half eagles from this mint but choice, original AU58 examples like this are not easy to locate. Personally, I'd rather have this coin in my collection than the typical rubby, dipped MS61 at nearly double the price.

1847-D $5.00 PCGS EF45 CAC

Deep reddish-gold hues are seen on the obverse and the reverse with the reverse the darker of the two sides. The underlying surfaces show some scattered marks that are consistent with the assigned grade. Well detailed, appealing and a perfect type coin for the collector seeking a single affordable example of a half eagle from the popular Dahlonega mint.

1846-D/D $5.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

D over D mintmark variety. I'm going to go out on a limb here and state that this is one of the loveliest circulated Dahlonega half eagles of any date that I have seen in some times. Both the obverse and the reverse are covered with thick warm amber-gold color which is slightly more intense in hue on the reverse than on the obverse. The fields are extremely clean with no marks of note and the strike is excellent with sharp, even detail seen at the centers and borders. A few spots of dirt can be seen on the reverse above and below the D in UNITED. Locating Dahlonega half eagles of this quality has always been difficult and the 1846-D/D is an extremely scarce variety with this degree of originality. A great coin for the connoisseur who appreciates extreme originality.

The 1846-D/D is a spectacular naked-eye variety on which the original mintmark punch was too high and then another was placed directly below it. It is scarce in terms of overall availability but it is actually seen more in high grades than its Normal Mintmark counterpart.

1851-D $5.00 PCGS EF45

In collector grades (i.e., VF and EF) the 1851-D is one of the more difficult Dahlonega half eagles to find. When available, it is inevitably softly struck, bright from having been dipped and heavily abraded. This deeply toned, sharply struck example is a welcome exception. It displays rich natural russet-gold color with some purplish iridescence surrounding the stars, date and reverse lettering. The surfaces are free of any significant marks and the strike is exceptional for the date with completely defined centers and a strong mintmark placed far to the right. On the reverse, there is a good deal of dirt adhering to the lettering and within the lines of the shield. In my experience, this date, along with the 1848-D, is the most underrated half eagle from this mint and pieces of this quality are genuinely scarce.

1839-C $5.00 NGC AU58

After employing the Classic Head design for just one year, the Charlotte mint produced the first of the Gobrecht Liberty Heads in 1839 only. This design is readily identifiable by a different configuration of the portrait and the presence of the mintmark on the obverse. As a date, the 1839-C is only the ninth rarest of twenty-four half eagles from this mint but it is the sixth rarest in high grades. In AU55 and above, this is an extremely scarce coin. The present example shows nice natural green-gold color with some deeper reddish-orange hues at the borders. The strike is bold and there are just a few light abrasions viisble on the surfaces. A small obverse rim nick at 10:00 doesn't detract; a small rim cud below the 18 in the date is as made. An important one-year type that, along with the 1839-D, is one of the few Southern branch mint half eagles that has multiple levels of demand.

1849 $5.00 PCGS MS62

Normal Date variety. At first glimpse, this impressive ultra-flashy coin has the appearance of a borderline gem but as it is tilted towards the light, some friction can be seen in the left obverse field. The high spots are free of wear and the surfaces are free of deep, problematic abrasions. A light yellow-gold hue adds appeal and the strike is razor sharp. The 1849 half eagle is common in all circulated grades and only moderately scarce in MS60 to MS61. But it is rare in MS62, very rare in MS63 and there is just a single piece that I have ever seen in MS64: Heritage 7/09: 1509 which sold for $16,100. PCGS has only graded three in MS62 with none better. There have been just eight auction records for 1849 half eagles in this grade since 1991 and a PCGS MS62 brought $4,830 all the way back in 1999 at the Bass II sale.

1841 $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

ANS Museum Pedigree. This early date No Motto half eagle is not really a rare date but it is seen far less often than any other Philadelphia half eagle from this decade except for the 1842. The 1841 half eagle is unquestionably scarce in the higher AU grades and it is very hard to find with original color and surfaces. This beautiful piece has dark, even green-gold color with some underlying reddish-orange shadings that are made more intense by the remaining luster. There is a considerable amount of dirt in the protected areas, especially on the reverse. This is the nicest circulated 1841 half eagle that I can recall having seen. It is the only AU58 example of this date accorded approval by CAC with just one better piece having been stickered.

Ex Stack's 1/11/07: 2048, ANS Collection duplicates

1846 Large Date $5.00 NGC MS61

Large Date variety. The Large Date is, by far, the scarcer of the two varieties of half eagle produced at the Philadelphia mint in 1846. In Uncircuated, this variety is actually quite rare and I can't recall personally having seen more than a handful in MS60 or better until a small group of MS64's was found in the S.S. New York treasure a few years back. This bright yellow-gold example has a very frosty obverse and a slightly PL reverse with very good detail. There are a number of small, shallow marks in the fields that in keeping with the grade assigned by NGC.

1840-O $5.00 NGC AU58

Narrow Mill variety. Unlike the 1838-C+D and the 1839-C+D half eagles, the first-year-of-issue 1840-O half eagle remains overlooked and undervalued. It is an issue that is most often seen in VF to EF grades and nice AU's are scarce. This lightly worn yellowish-gold piece is sharply detailed and has much of its original "skin." There are scattered marks seen in the fields with most located in the upper reverse above and behind the head of the eagle. The NGC population figure for this date in AU58 is well-inflated by resubmissions as evidenced by the fact that no AU58's have sold at auction since May 2008. An historically significant issue as the first half eagle from this mint and a pleasing slider example.