SUPERB GEM SLIDER 1860-D HALF EAGLE

Variety 46-GG, Medium D mintmark.

The 1860-D is the penultimate half eagle from Dahlonega and given the rarity and high price of the final-year-of-issue 1861-D, it is the latest dated coin from this mint that most half eagle collectors will own. The 1860-D is less rare than its low mintage of just 14,635 would suggest and there are close to 300 known in total. In Choice AU, this issue is very scarce and t is quite rare in Uncirculated with around a dozen known.

I bought this coin in a very old AU58 holder and cracked it out hoping to upgrade it to MS61. I still believe the coin should be in an MS61 holder but the best I could ever do was get it into its current AU58+ slab. To my eyes, the relief details are free of wear and there is virtually full luster seen on both sides. The light green-god surfaces show no serious marks or signs of being used in commerce and the appearance is wholesome and very natural. I have seen numerous inferior D mint half eagles in MS60 and MS61 holders.

This is the only PCGS AU58+ example of this date and no PCGS AU58 has ever sold at auction. In the last three years, only two PCGS AU58′s have crossed the block and they sold for $5,405 in June 2015 and $5,875 in January 2013. Neither was remotely as choice as the current piece

A PCGS MS61 1860-D is worth $12,500 or so and if you can find one, I seriously doubt it will be significantly finer than the current piece. If you have been looking for a Dahlonega half eagle type coin with all the bells and whistles, this is for you!

CAC has approved four in AU58 with three finer.