THE STAR CITY COLLECTION PART ONE IS NOW LIVE
$5.00 - 1859-C PCGS AU58
$5.00 - 1859-C PCGS AU58
Date…….1859-C
Grade…….PCGS AU58
PCGS Price Guide.…………12500
Population (PCGS)..….….…12/9
Population (NGC)..………….36/13
Serial Number……8281.58/45172503
PCGS Lookup Number.…...8281
SCARCE PCGS AU58 1859-C HALF EAGLE
All 1859-C (as well as 1860-C) half eagles were struck using a faulty reverse die which was not properly annealed. As a result, every coin shows a blurry impression and the coin can really only be graded on the basis of its obverse. Viewed as a date, the 1859-C is scarce in AU58 and quite rare in MS60 and higher.
This piece shows fully natural rich green-gold color which is absolutely right for this issue. There is no readily apparent wear and this coin would likely have graded MS61 were it not for some scattered abrasions on the obverse. The most notable of these is a scuff just outside of the third star. The luster is nearly full on the obverse, and the overall eye appeal is excellent for this misunderstood issue.
This exact coin (see below) is the sole non-CAC AU58 example of this date to sell at auction since 2017. A PCGS/CAC AU58 brought $14,400 as Stack’s Bowers 4/2022: 5095, and I don’t see much difference between that coin and this one.
Ex Stack’s Bowers 2022 ANA: 3083 where it sold for $9,000; Fairmont Hoard.
