Late reverse die state with a dramatic cud at 2:00-3:00.

As a date, the 1855-C is slightly scarce, certainly quite a bit more so than issues such as the 1848-C, 1849-C, 1850-C and 1852-C. It is not often seen above AU50 to AU55 and most examples in this range have been brightened.

This medium yellow-gold example has the luster and body of an AU53 to AU55 but it shows a number of ticks in the fields from handling. It has not been cleaned or processed and it shows good detail. The reverse die cud is plainly visible and it is very rare with probably fewer than a half dozen 1855-C half eagles showing this terminal crack.

The last “normal” 1855-C half eagle in PCGS AU50 to sell at auction brought $2,820 as Heritage 8/13. In the extensive Heritage auction archives, only two 1855-C Cud Reverse half eagles have sold at auction: a PCGS EF45 (which last sold in the 2007 ANA auction) and an unattractive NGC MS61 which brought $9,400 as Heritage 12/13: 3847.

Legitimate mint errors are extremely rare in branch mint gold coins and this piece should appeal to the sophisticated Charlotte collector or the error coin specialist.