The undervalued 1858 half eagle is comparable in rarity to the 1859 except that it is slightly more available in higher grades. There are around 100-125 1858 half eagles known and this is a very scarce date in Uncirculated with fewer than a dozen accounted for. The finest known is a wonderful Gem PCGS MS65 which sold for $40,250 back in Heritage’s May 2007 sale.

This fresh-to-the-market example has a wonderfully fresh and original appearance was slightly subdued satiny luster below natural orange-gold and pale rose color. The strike is very sharp and this coin would almost certainly grade MS63 or even higher were it not for a small reeding mark near Liberty’s chin and a light luster break in the left obverse field.

No MS62 has sold at auction since October 2006 and no MS63 has sold at auction since 1996 (!). The Milas NGC MS63 is just about to sell at the Heritage CSNS auction and while very choice, it is heavily copper spotted and will not appeal to many collectors.

No Motto half eagles from the Philadelphia mint remain one of the final frontiers of rare date gold coin collecting and a Mintmarked issue of comparable rarity/grade to this 1858 would sell for at least double of not triple my asking price for this coin.