Variety 13-N.  The 1850-D is the most available Dahlonega half eagle from this decade but it is still many times scarcer than the “common” dates of the type including the 1843-D, 1846-D and 1848-D. There are around 175-225 known in all grades with five or six dozen in AU. The 1850-D becomes very rare in full Mint with just three to five known. Properly graded AU55 examples with original color and surfaces are extremely hard to locate.

This is a wonderfully choice example of this date and it is one of the few that I have seen in many years in this grade that had not been dipped or processed. It shows a typical strike with some weakness at the border beads but reasonably sharp detail at the centers. Both sides have nicegreen-gold and orange color with a blush of reddish color seen at the upper portion of the reverse. There are a few tiny tiny marks below TES in STATES.

In the Heritage 10/12 auction, an NGC AU55 with CAC approval sold for $4,113. The present example is nicer, in my opinion, on account of its deeper color and more pronounced sense of originality.

CAC has approved three in this grade with five finer.