RARE CIVIL WAR ISSUE 1863-S HALF EAGLE GRADED AU50 BY PCGS

The 1863-S is a rare and popular San Francisco half eagle due to its still-reasonable price point and its Civil War issuance. There are an estimated 60-70 known from the original mintage figure of 17,000. The PCGS population figures for this date appear inflated in all AU grades and I rarely see the 1863-S above Extremely Fine.

This is a really choice coin with a wholesome, natural russet and rose appearance. The strike is sharp for the issue with good details seen at the centers and the surfaces show fewer marks than normal. The overall eye appeal is far above average and this is a date plague with over-scrubbed survivors.

The last PCGS AU50 1863-S half eagle to sell at auction was the Bass II: 1146 coin which sold for $6,900 in October 1999. In April 2014, an NGC AU53 realized $11,163 as Heritage 4/14.

If you have been looking for a nice 1863-S half eagle, you are doubtless aware that attractive examples are almost never offered for sale.