SCARCE AND POPULAR 1839-D HALF EAGLE

Variety 1, the rarer of the two varieties for this year.

The 1839-D is numismatically significant as a distinct one year type. It is the only half eagle from this mint with the original portrait of Liberty before it was modified in 1840 and it is the only Liberty Head issue with the mintmark on the obverse. It was neglected for years but it has become popular as collectors grew aware of its significance. There are around 200-225 known, mostly in the VF-EF range. The great majority of collector grade pieces have been cleaned and show poor eye appeal as a result.

This is an especially nice example for the grade with pleasing medium russet-gold hues which are deepest at the reverse border. The detail is excellent for the date and grade and the surfaces are clean save for a few light marks in the left obverse field. This is the single best looking EF45 1839-D half eagle I have seen in some time

Only one PCGS EF45 has sold at auction since 2000 and it brought $5,175 as Heritage 6/10: 1622.

This date has become expensive in About Uncirculated with nice examples bringing in the low-to-mid five figures. For collectors with a more limited budget, opportunities to acquire a really good-looking 1839-D half eagle are far and few between.