The Philadelphia No Motto half eagles remain overlooked and undervalued but, in my opinion, they are highly collectible and favorably priced. The 1844, like most half eagles of this era, is scarce in properly graded MS62, rare in MS63 and virtually unknown finer. I believe there are only two to three dozen known in all Uncirculated grades.

This example is characterized by pleasing natural medium to deep green and orange-gold color. The obverse is extremely choice with just a few minor scuffs and a small mint-made toning spot between stars five and six; the reverse has a few more small ticks and a little weakness of strike on the shield and arrow feathers.

A non-CAC NGC MS62 example sold for $3,966 as Heritage 2/14: 5271. Only four PCGS MS62′s have sold at auction since the beginning of 2005.

If you like genuinely scarce pre-Civil War gold coins and you want them to be in higher grades and at a reasonable level, Philadelphia No Motto issues are what you should be collecting.

CAC has approved three in this grade with only two finer (both MS63).