274
|
$5 Gold
A
MONG
T
HE
F
INEST
1847-C $5 L
IBERTY
1813
1847-C
.
PCGS graded MS-63
. Well struck and lustrous.
The surfaces are radiant and each side has a nice veneer of
vivid and frosty golden patina that whips and tosses about
as it alternates between heavier frost (on the portrait and
eagle) and slightly smoother luster shades in the surround-
ing field. All this is perhaps obvious from the photos. What
we need to put emphasis on also is that the strike is unusu-
ally crisp and detailed for this important C-mint issue. It
displays sharp metal flows into the deepest recesses of the
dies on both sides. Complete stars and bold date; resolute
hair waves and coronet with a strong LIBERTY inscribed
thereon. The trend continues on the other side, for the
reverse is quintessential sharp strike, including all eagle
feathers, the shield and legends, as well as the rim dentils.
A bold example of this desirable Charlotte, North Carolina
branch mint Half Eagle.
Half eagles were coined at Charlotte nearly every year from
1838 to 1861 with the exception being 1845, when the
mint was under repair from a catastrophic fire that had
nearly destroyed it the year before. The greater utility of
this denomination and its more widespread popularity with
depositors resulted in higher mintage for this denomination
than for quarter eagles. The record was set in 1847, when
84,151 five-dollar pieces were struck. Mintages rarely went
below 10,000 pieces, though 6,879 half eagles were struck
in 1861, the final year of operation.
Pop 2; 1 finer in 65
.
(
PCGS # 8233
)
Estimated Value .................................... $22,000 - 24,000
Enlargement
M
INT
S
TATE
1847-C $5 L
IBERTY
1814
1847-C
.
PCGS graded MS-61
. Nice light golden toning.
Only 84,151 minted. A remarkable frosty coin that emits
eye-catching gold color, few no marks and no problems to
speak of or for the skeptic to find. A dullish impression was
often left by the recoil of the dies that struck most Charlotte
Mint Half Eagles, almost accepted as a rule when it comes
to this Mint; however, some were much more carefully
made and we are pleased to see and report that this is a
splendid exception to that rule. Stars are full on the
obverse, as is Liberty’s hair and hair bun. There is only
minor blurriness in LIBERTY at the coronet. The reverse
continues the sharp detail, which is seen in full neck and
leg feathers, a sharp wing, perhaps a slightly rounded
shield in spots but nothing even approaching the usual
“weak” areas. Frosty. Very choice surfaces. Top-notch eye
appeal.
Pop 4; 5 finer, 2 in 62, 2 in 63, 1 in 65
. (
PCGS
# 8233
)
Estimated Value .................................... $10,000 - 11,000
1815
1851
.
PCGS graded EF-45
. Nice golden toning. (
PCGS #
8246
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $400 - 425
S
CARCE
1853-C $5 L
IBERTY
1816
1853-C
.
NGC graded MS-60
. Only 65,571 minted.
Mostly untoned.
Pop 6; 19 finer, 1 in 60+, 4 in 61, 9 in
62, 2 in 63, 3 in 64
. (
PCGS # 8254
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $5,000 - 5,500
Enlargement
