Medium D.

The 1860-D is the second to last half eagle from the Dahlonega mint and for most collectors it is the final issue which they will acquire. It is a more available date than one might expect but, as with all half eagles from this mint, it is rare in properly graded MS61 and nearly unobtainable above this.

This fresh-to-the-market example was recently graded by PCGS and it has some of the richest frosty luster that I can recall having seen on this date. There is some light friction in the obverse fields (not wear but, more likely, from storage in an old coin cabinet) which is accentuated due to the delicacy of the surfaces and the richness of the deep, even green-gold color. There is a decided lack of marks in the fields and the strike is better than average with just a touch of weakness at the centers.

The last PCGS MS61 example of this date to sell was ex Great Collections 4/12: 47766 which brought $13,750. No others have sold at auction since the beginning of 2009.

High quality Dahlonega half eagles are currently in strong demand and there are not nearly enough coins available to satisfy the joint demands by date and type collectors.