POPULAR PCGS/CAC AU50 1839-D $2.50

Winter Variety 1-A.

Like its two half eagle counterparts, the 1839-D is a popular one-year type and it represents the very first coin of the denomination struck at the Dahlonega (and Charlotte) mints. It is not really scarce until you reach the AU55 level, but nice AU50 and AU53 examples are far from common, particularly when you factor in appearance and eye appeal.

Deep greenish-gold hues with some contrasting peripheral orange-gold flashes give this coin a very good naked-eye appearance. The detail is uncommonly bold for this issue and the surfaces are fairly choice save for a series of tiny marks beneath the right wing. Personally, I like my AU50s to exhibit a bit more luster than what shows on this coin, but I agree 100% with the assigned grade.

It is very surprising to me that not a single PCGS AU50 1839-D quarter eagle has appeared at auction since Stack’s Bowers sold one back in 2014. That firm sold a more relevant coin for $9,600 in their 11/2024 auction, graded EF45 by PCGS and approved by CAC.

It has been over a year since DWN has offered a PCGS/CAC example of the 1839-D quarter eagle in any grade.

CAC has approved two in AU50 with 11 finer.

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