Variety 2-A. The rarer and more desirable of the two known varieties.

The 1839-D is numismatically significant as the first Liberty Head half eagle from the Dahlonega mint. It is a distinct one year type coin with the mintmark located on the obverse and first style Liberty Head with a noticeably curved neckline. There are around 150 or so known with most showing plenty of wear. About Uncirculated pieces are scarce and properly graded AU55′s are rare, especially with natural color and choice surfaces.

This fresh to the market example has some of the richest, most appealing color that I have seen on an 1839-D half eagle. Both sides are a medium orange-gold in hue with the shades becoming deeper and richer at the peripheries. The strike is extremely sharp with nearly full centers; most 1839-D half eagles are from the 1-A die par and these coins always show weakness at the centers. The surfaces show small ticks and abrasions from circulation but there are no marks which are worthy of individual mention. The overall eye appeal is far above average for the date.

Only five AU55 1839-D half eagles have sold at auction since the middle of 2005. The last NGC example was sold in October 2008 and it brought $9,020; the last PCGS AU55 sold for $13,225 as Heritage 4/11: 5385.

The 1839-D has multiple levels of demand and it status as a one-year type make it a great companion piece to the popular (and less rare) 1838-D half eagle. This is among the nicer pieces I have offered for sale in some time.