Variety 7-E. Small Date, designated by NGC.

Two varieties of half eagle were struck at the Dahlonega mint in 1842: the Small Date and the Large Date. The former is the more available of the two but it is difficult to locate in grades above AU50 to AU53, especially with natural color and choice surfaces.

This very fresh example is choice and original with deep, even green-gold color which is correct for the issue. The strike is sharp and the surfaces are very clean save for two small contact marks on the reverse.

Only two APR’s have been recorded for this variety in AU55 since May 2010 and neither was approved by CAC; these coins sold for $3,996 and $4,113, respectively. At the recent ANA, I was offered the other CAC approved AU53 example for $5,000 by a dealer.

This date is challenging to find in grades higher than this and the present 1842-D Small Date should fit nicely into a set of Dahlonega half eagles focused on coins with original surfaces.

CAC has approved two in this grade with six finer.