BORDERLINE GEM 1836 HALF EAGLE

McCloskey 4-C, R-3. Second Head, Large Date.

The 1836 is the second most available Classic Head half eagle after the 1834 Plain 4. It is fairly available in the lower Uncirculated grades but it becomes scarce in properly graded MS63 and it is rare in MS64. PCGS has graded just two in MS65 and the last one to appear at auction brought $67,563 in 2015.

This borderline Gem has the luster and flash of an MS65 but the surfaces are just a touch too "busy" to qualify as such with some scattered scuffs seen in the left obverse field and a bit of mint-made planchet roughness through AMERICA on the reverse. Both sides show medium golden color and the quality of strike is outstanding.

The Pogue IV: 4053 example, also graded MS64+ by PCGS, realized $22,913 in May 2016. It re-appeared a few months later in the Heritage 2016 ANA where it brought $21,150.

With just two coins graded finer at PCGS, this 1836 represents essentially the finest available for the date and this specific coin would make a splendid type example as well.

Ex Heritage 2007 ANA: 1917 where it sold for $25,300 as a PCGS MS64.

From the Western Springs collection.