The 1838-D is far from the rarest half eagle from the Dahlonega mint but it one of the few issues with such strong multiple levels of demand. It is very rare in Uncirculated with fewer than dozen known, the best of which is a PCGS MS63 which sold for $57,500 in Heritage’s 201 FUN auction.

This coin has some of the richest color and best luster on any 1838-D half eagle which I have handled. It shows rich green-gold hues on both sides and the luster is slightly reflective (instead of the typical frost) which suggests that it was an early strike. It is very well madewith good details at the centers and the fields are free of the pesky marks which plague this issue. For the sake of identification I note a small vertical mark alongside Liberty’s eye and another at her throat.

No NGC MS62 1838-D half eagle has ever sold at auction. The last PCGS MS62 was Heritage 8/07: 1919 which brought $37,375. Back in the 1999 FUN sale, a PCGS MS62 brought $40,250.

The 1838-D half eagle is in demand as a one-year type, a first-year-of-issue and a condition rarity in the Dahlonega series. It is clearly a coin whose demand transcends date collectors and it may be years before a comparable piece becomes available,

CAC has approved just this one coin in MS62 with none finer.