CHOICE 1843-O SMALL LETTERS HALF EAGLE

Varieties of 1843-O half eagles are known with Small Letters (reverse of 1842-O) and Large Letters. The former is at least twice as scarce as the latter and it is not often seen in the AU grades. When available in About Uncirculated, the pieces offered for sale are invariably bright and unoriginal and I have seen just a handful with natural color and pleasing surfaces.

This fresh to the market example is toned to a medium green-gold hue with some darkening of the color on the relief details and in the left obverse. Both sides are free of detracting marks and the detail is excellent with no lapping on the upper stars as well as no die cracks.

Only one PCGS AU50 has sold at auction since May 2004 and a PCGS AU53 sold for $3,819 as Heritage 4/14: 6350. I sold the only other PCGS/CAC AU50 example for $3,500 in November 2014 to a collector.

This variety is almost never available in this grade range and even less often with the degree of eye appeal shown by this lovely piece.

CAC has approved two in this grade with none finer and only five for the entire date.