Variety 3-B. Tall D mintmark; designated as such by PCGS.

The 1840-D is one of the scarcer half eagles from this mint, especially in high grades. There are an estimated five to seven known in Uncirculated of which the finest is the Duke’s Creek coin (graded MS63) followed by three separate pieces graded MS62 by PCGS. It is a numismatically significant issue as it is the first date of this type with the modified Liberty Head and the mintmark on the reverse.

This bright, lustrous example shows a slightly grainy texture which is often seen on this issue. It is very well struck from an early state of the dies with no cracks or die rotation. The detail is excellent with total definition on the curls and hair as well as the feathers. There are no significant marks in the fields; a few very light hairlines below the date are hard to see without tilting the coin at a pronounced angle.

There have only been two auction records for this date in PCGS MS62 (and they are the same coin). In the Green Pond sale held by Heritage in January 2004, an attractive piece sold for $26,450; it was earlier sold as Lot 7668 in the Heritage 1999 ANA auction. In July 2008, the SS New York NGC MS62 brought $31,050. I do not have a copy of this catalog convenient (and it is, unfortunately, not currently online) but I suspect that this may be the same coin.

Only three examples of the 1840-D half eagle have been graded MS62 by PCGS with none finer. As far as I know, this is the finest example of this date which is currently available to collectors and it is of the highest importance to the advanced Dahlonega half eagle specialist.

sold