RARE AND IMPORTANT 1859-D $5, PCGS/CAC MS62, ex Fairmont Hoard

Winter 44-H, Medium D mintmark, designated by PCGS.

This is the third-to-last half eagle made at the declining Dahlonega mint, and the 1859-D is as scarce as is relatively modest mintage of 10,366 would suggest. I am aware of around 10 known in Uncirculated with the single best the NGC MS64+ in the Duke’s Creek Collection and ex Pittman (Akers 10/1997: 1022 at a record-setting $60,500). There are four known in MS63 and another three in MS62.

This coin is among the single finest Dahlonega half eagles of any date from the Fairmont hoard, and as with most of the coins from this source, this piece is notable for its singular degree of originality. It is crisply struck and 100% original with undipped surfaces covered with bursts of warm honey-gold and rose color. A few grade-limiting marks can be seen in the left obverse field but this is an incredibly fresh and truly exceptional coin for the grade and for the date as well.

To the best of my knowledge, this is the single highest graded PCGS/CAC D mint half eagle of any date currently for sale in the market.

Ex Stack’s Bowers 9/2025: 3311 ($43,200), ex Fairmont Hoard

CAC has approved just this single piece in MS62 with one finer (MS63).

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