Variety 44-HH; Medium D mintmark.

Only one half eagle from the Dahlonega mint has a lower mintage than the 1859-D. I rank it as the 10th rarest of 26 issues and it is more available in higher grades than one might expect. In Uncirculated, it is very rare with between seven and nine known, the finest of which is the Duke’s Creek MS64+ which sold, raw, for $60,500 in the October 1997 Pittman collection.

This fresh-to-the-market example features deep, rich golden-orange color with splashes of deeper coppery-red at the right obverse, above the eagle’s head and past the D in UNITED on the reverse. The strike is better than average for the issue with just a touch of weakness seen at the central obverse. The surfaces are very frosty with no appreciable marks. The eye appeal is excellent.

Heritage 1/14: 6696 is the last NGC MS62 example to sell at auction; it realized $19,975. The last PCGS MS62 to sell was ex ANR 8/06: 1444 and this coin brought a strong $28,750. There are auction records of over $20,000 for MS62 1859-D half eagles going back over a decade ago.

This is the nicest 1859-D half eagle I have seen in years. It would make a great type coin for the collector seeking a single exceptional Dahlonega half eagle or it would fit well into a world-class set of half eagles from this mint.