The 1840-C is a numismatically significant issue as the first Liberty Head half eagle from this mint with the mintmark placed on the reverse. It is a scarce issue in all grades and one which becomes rare in properly graded AU50 and above. As with many early date Charlotte half eagles, it is almost never found with original color and surfaces.

This choice, original example exhibits beautiful deep orange-gold color with a subtle reddish-gold obverse periphery. As with a sizable number of 1840-C half eagles, this piece was not sharply struck and there is weakness on the radial lines in the stars and at the centers. There is a considerable amount of luster present on both sides; certainly more than enough for this coin to be regarded as choice for the grade. The left obverse field shows some light old marks below the color; a few marks can be seen on the revers

There have been just four examples graded EF40 by PCGS auctioned since the beginning of 2001 of which this example was the last.

At the recent CSNS show, I tried to buy a PCGS AU53 1840-C half eagle, at twice the price of this example, which lacked the originality and character which this piece shows.

Ex Goldberg 2/12: 1489, where it realized $2,645.

CAC has approved two in this grade with seven finer.