RARE CHOICE AU 1855-D HALF EAGLE

Variety 38-EE.

The 1855-D is, along with the 1851-D, the rarest Dahlonega half eagle struck during the 1850′s. There are under 200 known with most in the VF-EF range. Nice AU pieces are very scarce with most grading no better than AU50 to AU53 and invariably showing weak strikes and a lack of natural color.

I have had the good fortune of handling some really impressive 1855-D half eagles in 2014-2015 (including all the CAC approved pieces graded AU50 and higher) and this fresh-to-the-market example is the latest in this impressive run. It is well struck for the issue with less weakness at the centers than usual and it is very lustrous with nice frost seen on both sides. Some natural medium green-gold and rich orange hues add to the overall degree of eye appeal.

Only one PCGS AU55 example of this date/variety has sold at auction since August 2004 and it brought $4,888 as Stacks Bowers 8/12: 12378.

This coin should appeal to date collectors, type collectors and even variety collectors.

CAC, for this variety, has approved three in AU55 with only one finer. For the date, they have approved a total of three in this grade and three finer.