CONDITIONALLY RARE PCGS/CAC AU55 1855-D MEDIUM D, ex Fairmont

Winter Variety 38-CC. Medium D mintmark; attributed by PCGS on the slab label.

The Medium D 1855-D is scarcer than its Large D counterpart. I know of just one coin in Uncirculated (a PCGS MS62 in the Hansen Collection), as well as three in AU58. As a date, the 1855-D is the third rarest of 26 Dahlonega half eagles, and in high grades (AU55 and finer) it is actually rarer than the celebrated 1861-D.

This is one of a very small number of 1855-D half eagles that I actually like enough that I would place it in my own set if I were collecting this series. It is 100% unmolested and extremely rare as such. As on every known 1855-D, there is weakness of strike at the centers which is most noticeable on the eagle’s neck feathers which are flat.

This exact coin (see below) is one of two 1855-D Medium D half eagles graded AU55 by PCGS and approved by CAC to sell at auction. The other, which in my opinion, is less choice than this one brought $13,800 as Heritage 10/2021: 3298. Two noteworthy comparables for nice PCGS examples are Stack’s Bowers 2022 ANA: 6137 at $22,800 for an AU58+, and Stack’s Bowers 2022 ANA: 6138—graded AU58—at $14,400.

An essentially unimprovable 1855-D Medium D for a sophisticated Dahlonega specialist.

CAC has approved two in this grade with two finer. For the variety, they have approved a total of 10 coins.

From the Star City Collection of Dahlonega gold; ex Stack’s Bowers 2022 ANA: 3066 at $9,000, Fairmont hoard.

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