SUPERB, FRESH PCGS/CAC 1860-D HALF EAGLE GRADED MS63+

Medium D, Variety 46-GG.

The 1860-D is the second-to-last half eagle made at this mint before it closed for good in 1861. Of the 14,635 struck, there are an estimated 225-275 known including as many as 10-12 in Uncirculated, including two in NGC MS64.

This wonderful example, the finest 1860-D half eagle that I have ever owned, has an interesting backstory. It walked into a coin shop–raw–in the South and after it was purchased, it was graded by NGC at a “walkthrough” event at their Sarasota office. I acquired it at a recent auction (see below) in an NGC MS64 holder and decided to downcross it to a PCGS MS63+. I don’t disagree with the original NGC grade at all and I think this is backed up by the price I paid for it.

The coin itself is wonderfully frosty with glowing natural orange-gold color in similar hues on the obverse and the reverse. It is well detailed with the exception of the centers which show characteristic weakness, especially on the neck feathers. There is a tiny obverse mark opposite star eleven and a fine, old scratch on the side of Liberty’s face which is hard to notice. All in all, this is a superb coin for the date and grade with oodles of eye appeal.

The auction record for this date in MS64 is $74,750 set by an NGC coin offered as Stacks Bowers 2011 ANA: 7684; the exact same coin sold as Stacks 1/10: 3534 in a PCGS MS63 holder. The Duke’s Creek coin is graded MS64 by NGC (and PCGS as well) and it brought $49,500 all the way back in May 1995.

It is not often that a Dahlonega half eagle of any date is offered for sale in the MS63 to MS64 range and even less often with the eye appeal which this coin displays.

CAC has graded just this one example in MS63 or MS63+ and none higher.

Ex: Heritage 1/16: 5588 (as NGC MS64) where I paid $48,175 for it.