VERY RARE CONDITION CENSUS 1842-D LARGE DATE HALF EAGLE

Variety 8-G.

The 1842-D Large Date is not the most valuable half eagle from the Dahlonega mint (that honor goes to the 1861-D) but it is clearly the rarest in high grades. Population Reports to the contrary, there are likely no more than a dozen true AU coins known and I doubt if more than seven or eight truly choice, truly original pieces exist in all grades combined.

This newly-discovered example is totally fresh to the market and it represents only the second PCGS AU55 1842-D Large Date which I have offered in over a decade. It is fully detailed, minimally abraded and remarkable in that it has never been cleaned, brightened or “improved” as have most examples of this variety. A small old scrape on the chin of Liberty is really all which keeps this remarkable coin from strong consideration at the AU58 level.

The last PCGS AU55 to sell at auction brought $18,400 all the way back in January 2008. I sold the other known PCGS/CAC AU55 (ex Western Michigan/Bass) for $23,500 to a Midwestern collector and could have sold that coin multiple times.

An extremely important and essentially unimprovable coin which belongs in a world-class collection of Dahlonega gold.

CAC has approved three in all grades including two in AU55 and none higher.