RARE AND IMPORTANT PCGS MS64 1839 $5.00

While widely known as a first-year-of-issue, the 1839 is also significant for its status as a one-year type. A quick perusal of the obverse shows significant differences to the second Liberty Head design that was adopted in 1840 and which continued all the way through 1908.

This coin is being offered for sale for the first time in a dozen years. It is very frosty with nice medium orange-gold color seen on both sides. There are tiny mint-made copper spots on the obverse and the reverse and some grade-limiting scuffs as expected.

In Uncirculated, there are likely not more than 10-15 examples of this date. There are three known in MS64 (with none finer) and these are as follows:

• Stack’s Bowers 5/2016: 4060 ($47,000), ex Pogue Collection, Heritage 2006 ANA: 5498 ($80,500), Stack’s 10/1994: 1085, James Stack Collection.

• This coin, ex Heritage 2014 FUN: 5441 ($41,125).

• DL Hansen Collection, ex Heritage 4/2020: 3794 ($50,400).

I regard this example as the second finest known 1839 half eagle, and with both of the other two coins off the market, it is highly unlikely that a better example of this important one-year type will be available any time soon.

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