CAC APPROVED COLLECTOR GRADE 1838-D HALF EAGLE

Variety 1.

Due to its status as a first-year-of-issue and as a one-year type, the 1838-D is the most popular half eagle made by the Dahlonega mint. It is clearly not a rare issue in VF and EF grades, but most of the surviving coins in this range have poor eye appeal due to repeated cleanings and rough handling. Affordable but good looking pieces are very infrequently offered and when I am lucky enough to have one in stock, it always receives plenty of attention.

In my opinion, this piece is conservatively graded and PCGS has penalized it for its strike and not its actual wear. There is a good deal of luster seen in the protected areas and the surfaces lack the numerous marks seen on so many 1838-D half eagles. Perhaps the best feature about this coin is its nice medium reddish-gold color which is present on the obverse and the reverse. The overall level of eye appeal is far above-average for the issue and for the grade.

No CAC approved PCGS slabbed example of this issue in any grade has ever sold at auction (!). Since the Summer of 2013, there are three APRs for non-CAC 1838-D half eagles, with the most recent selling for $5,760 in February 2018. The market for PCGS/CAC Dahlonega gold has increased significantly since then.

If you need this coin, you had best act fast because it will sell very quickly given my extensive experience with 1838-D half eagles.

CAC has approved three in this grade with 16 finer.

From the Pacifica Collection

DWN collects sales tax when appropriate.