RARE AND UNDERVALUED UNCIRCULATED 1860 HALF EAGLE

Like the 1858 and 1859 half eagles, the 1860 is a scarce, undervalued issue which does not get the recognition it deserves. It is a scarce issue in the higher AU grades and it is rare in Uncirculated with just six or seven currently accounted for. The finest known is an NGC MS65 which last sold at a Kingswood 2003 auction for a reasonable $23,000.

This is a fresh-to-the-market example which has never before been offered to collectors. It is totally original with no signs of having been dipped or tampered with and the resultant color is a very pleasing natural russet hue. Both sides show a few scattered marks but I’m not exactly sure why this coin was graded as a “60″ by PCGS and it seems choicer than this to me.

There are no APR’s for this date in MS60 or MS61. I bought an NGC MS62 in the Heritage 1/13 sale cheaply at $7,638 but to be honest I like the present example more.

In my opinion, at less than $10,000, I think this coin is wonderful value.

CAC has approved just two in Uncirculated: this coin and an MS62.