The 1840-C is numismatically significant as the first-year-of-issue Liberty Head half eagle from the Charlotte mint. It is what I call an “appearance rarity” as, while not really rare from an overall rarity standpoint, very few are choice and original and many show mint-made planchet issues.

This is a choice and very pleasing high end EF example with natural rich russet toning which deepens towards the borders. The strike is a touch weak at the centers but is still better than average for the issue. There are small, scattered marks in the fields which are not prominent and the overall eye appeal is very choice for the date and grade.

There have been remarkably few EF45′s at auction in the last decade with only two(!) records of sale. Heritage 5/04: 94338, graded EF45 by PCGS, sold for $4,888.

If you are working on a date set of Charlotte half eagles or a first-year-of-issue set (a nice but complete challenge in the Liberty Head half eagle series, by the way) this is an ideal 1840-C.

CAC has only approved this one example in this grade with six finer.

On hold.