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Small Date variety. An attractive, evenly worn example with nearly enough to detail to grade EF40 but with a few old, well-hidden surface marks keeping this at the Choice VF level. On both sides, the color is a uniform deep green-gold. A scarce date in any grade and a very hard coin to locate with original color and surfaces. This is the only 1842-D Small Date half eagle in any grade below EF40 to have been approved by CAC.
The rarity of the 1862-1865 Philadelphia half eagles has been misunderstood for decades. Despite low mintages and no real reason why any should have survived, these coins have traditionally been overlooked in favor of less rare branch mint issues. But the word is finally out on the 1864 half eagle and I, for one, think this coin's sudden appreciation with collectors is long overdue. Only 4,170 business strikes were made and I doubt if more than 60-80 are known in all grades. This date becomes very rare in properly graded AU50 and above and the last PCGS 53 to sell at auction was in May 2000. A PCGS 55 just sold for $9,200 in the last Heritage auction (9/11, lot 4316). This lightly toned example has splashes of tangerine-gold color on the obverse and reverse and is nicely detailed. There are a few marks on the obverse including a series of three small abrasions ( a reeding mark?) from the chin and a light mark or two on the cheek. A nice example of this Civil War rarity.
BD-4, High Rarity-4. This variety is easily recognized by the reverse cuds at ES in STATES and O in OF. There have actually been a fairly decent number of 1798 half eagles on the market in the last few months and with the exception of a few, I have been largely unimpressed. Most had been dipped at one time and most were liberally abraded. I like this coin because it is very original and because it is clean. I think it compares favorably to other 1798 half eagles that I've seen in MS61 holders and it would not look out of place in such a slab. The color of this coin is exceptional with splendid rich orange-gold that deepens to red at the left obverse and throughout much of the reverse. There is a slight amount of friction on the high spots and a number of adjustment marks (mint-made, of course) on the reverse that form a criss-cross pattern within the shield and the inner parts of the wings. As is typical of this variety, the centers are not as sharp as the borders and I have seen similar adjustment marks on a number of 1798 BD-4 half eagles. The originality and eye appeal of this coin make it very special and this is a wonderful piece of 18th century American gold.
BD-2. R-4. The Capped Head Left, Large Diameter type, struck from 1813 through 1829, contains some of the rarest gold issues ever produced by the United States mint. Only the 1813 is somewhat readily available in the lower Uncirculated grades and this makes it the ideal date for use in a type set of U.S. gold. This example is original and choice for the grade with very nice intense lemon-gold color on both sides. The strike is typical for the date with some softness on the border beads but good overall detail at the centers. There is some light marking in the obverse and reverse fields that limits the grade but the freshness and eye appeal of this coin make it as nice a Fat Head half eagle as you are likely to find in this grade and price range. The next grade up (in a PCGS holder and with a CAC sticker) will cost you over $55,000 if you can even find one!
CAC has given approval to ten examples in this grade and seven higher than this.
This fresh to the market example has glowing yellow-gold color and excellent luster which is unusual for the date as many 1806 Round 6 half eagles are dull and satiny in texture. The strike is a bit better than usual for the variety with good detail at the centers and sharp denticles; the radial lines in the stars are, as usual, flat. There are a few scuffs in the obverse fields and a small mint-made area of roughness on the left side of the I in LIBERTY while the reverse is extremely clean and would grade at least MS63+ on its own accord. The last two PCGS MS62 examples of the 1806 Round 6 half eagle were Stack's Bowers 2011 ANA: 7660 and Heritage 2010 ANA: 3479 which brought $25,875 and $21,850 respectively. This coin has really exceptional eye appeal and it is the perfect grade for most type collectors as a PCGS MS63, if available, would cost $35,000+ and might not be all that much better than this.
Medium D mintmark variety. Very well struck as is typically the case of this date and variety with full radial lines within the stars and sharp, individually defined hair and feather details. The color is an attractive medium to deep green gold which is "correct" for original examples of this date. This coin would probably grade AU55 or even AU58 if it were not for the presence of a reeding mark on Liberty's throat and small, thin nick on the cheek. A great piece for the type collector or a good piece for the new Dahlonega specialist who wants to get his feet wet with a nice quality but affordable half eagle.
I almost never see this date in the EF grades. Most 1856-D half eagles are in higher grades (AU53 and up) and this is due to the presence of a hoard as well as a lack of circulation. But this piece is not only a Choice EF, it has lovely warm reddish-gold color at the borders and smooth, lightly abraded surfaces. The strike is typically soft with the radial lines in the stars very flat and somewhat beveled edges.
Large D mintmark. This coin has among the more interesting back stories of any D mint half eagle that I've offered for quite some time. I purchased it from a dealer in the United States who imported it from Europe. This dealer, who is extremely knowledgeable about U.S. gold coins, says that this is one of the very few Dahlonega pieces that he has been able to buy in the last few years. He added that both Charlotte and Dahlonega coins are almost never found in Europe, despite his careful scrutiny of tens of thousands of gold coins every year. Besides the neat story, the coin itself is pleasing with lovely multi-hued reddish-gold hues on the obverse and, more extensively, on the reverse. Both sides are lightly abraded and both show a good deal of natural dirt in the protected areas. The 1853-D is one of the most common Dahlonega half eagles but you could look for years and not find an example with better color than this
While certainly not in the same league as the legendary Philadelphia half eagle of this year, the 1875-S is a very scarce issue in its own right. Only 9,000 were struck and it is likely that only 70-80 pieces are known. That makes the 1875-S a scarcer issue than the 1875-CC half eagle as well as a number of better known and higher priced half eagles of this era. Light orange-gold color is contrasted by some flashes of reddish-gold at the borders and within the protected areas. A good deal of luster is present but this coin is kept at the EF45 level by the presence of numerous small ticks in the fields. This piece is very similar in overall quality to Heritage 1/10: 3987 (graded EF45 by PCGS) that sold for $2,530. At less than $3,000 this seems like good value.
