FEBRUARY 2025 NEW PURCHASES ARE NOW LIVE ON THE SITE
ON HOLD - $5.00 - 1856-D PCGS MS61 CAC, ex Fairmont
ON HOLD - $5.00 - 1856-D PCGS MS61 CAC, ex Fairmont
Date…….1856-D
Grade…….PCGS MS62 CAC
PCGS Price Guide.…….……18500
CDN Greysheet/CPG.…..…12000
Population (PCGS).……..…..12/20
Population (NGC)..…………..4/7
Population (CAC).….....….….1/0
Serial Number……8268.61/45172490
PCGS Lookup Number.……….8268
RARE CAC APPROVED PCGS MS61 1856-D HALF EAGLE
If you go by just the third-party grading populations of the 1856-D half eagle in Uncirculated, you will not be overwhelmed by the rarity of this issue. What these figures don’t reveal is that virtually every MS60 and finer 1856-D comes from a hoard found in the ground by a South Carolina farmer plowing his field. The majority of these are either net graded or are no grades due to excessive hairlines or surface issues from the excavation process.
This is one of two or three best 1856-D half eagles I am aware from the standpoint of originality. It is 100% free of wear and it has never been doctored. As on every known example, there is weakness of strike on the curls beneath LIBERTY as well as on the corresponding reverse. A few small, well-hidden marks in the left obverse field preclude an otherwise-deserved MS62 grade.
Not every collector is going to understand the significance of this wonderful 1856-D half eagle but if you “get it,” you’ll surely want to add this virgin original coin to your set.
Ex Heritage 2025 FUN where I purchased it for $17,400; earlier from the Drumwright Collection via DWN and originally Lot 3070 in Stack’s Bowers 2022 ANA at $16,800.
This coin remains the single 1856-D to be approved by CAC in any Uncirculated grade.
