Attractive 1810 Half Eagle Graded MS60 by CACG (Legacy)

Large Date, Large 5 Variety. BD-4, R-2.

The terms “MS60” and “attractive” tend to be mutually exclusive when it comes to early US gold coinage. There are very few pre-1834 gold coins which exist in MS60, and it is likely that at least 90% of those that do are in this grade due to surfaces problems resulting in negative eye appeal.

This coin is virgin original with dusky natural russet and green-gold color which has obviously never been lightened. Without magnification, this piece resembles an MS62 or even finer, but with a glass it is possible to note marks on the cheek of Liberty as well as cabinet friction on the fields on both the obverse and the reverse. The eye appeal is exceptional for the grade and this piece will fit nicely into a type set.

The last PCGS MS60 example of this variety brought $8,700 back in 2019. No CAC approved MS60 has ever sold. In mid-2020, Legend Auctions sold a PCGS/CAC AU58 for $12,338.

PCGS has graded just three in MS60 with 158 finer. CAC has stickered one coin in MS60 and graded this one coin in MS60; 38 have been approved in grades higher than this. The CAC Price Guide for an 1810 Large Date, Large 5 in MS60 is $15,250, while the PCGS Price Guide suggests a value of $15,000 in this grade.

Ex Stack's Bowers 3/2024: 4274, where I purchased it as a PCGS/CAC MS60 for $13,800.

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