278
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$5 Gold
1858-D $5 L
IBERTY
1825
1858-D
.
NGC graded MS-60
. Nice light golden toning.
Frosty surfaces display a fair amount of mint brilliance and
strong natural golden shading. Sharply struck in all areas
barring two stars, an extraordinary departure from the
weakness of strike this date typically presents. From the
scant mintage of 15,362 pieces, few specimens can be
found today in any grade above Extremely Fine. The pres-
ent Mint State 60, with a solid grade number plus the
important aspect of sharp strike and aesthetic appeal
should combine to create a buyer’s picnic where, to the
consignor’s pleasure, a whole cadre of bidders may show
up to bid.
Pop 2; 8 finer
. (
PCGS # 8278
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $7,500 - 8,000
H
IGH
G
RADE
1859-C $5 L
IBERTY
1826
1859-C
.
PCGS graded MS-62
. Only 31,847 minted.
Lovely golden toning. The warm golden hue is rich with
color, orange to peach tinged and more evident on the
obverse where it nearly encompasses the entire surface.
On the reverse, the color hugs the edge, yielding but
grudgingly to the more typical reddish tint of standard 90%
gold 10% copper “coin gold.” Adding to those results, a
word about strike: this piece has all but needle-sharp
devices on the obverse, with gorgeous detail on the stars,
the date digits, Liberty’s hair but especially the coronet.
Fully struck in most obverse areas as this is, some uncon-
vincing roundness here and there is “standard issue” for
the reverse, including a softly impressed eagle and shield.
However, these minor drawbacks are compensated by out-
standing surface quality. The surface is free of most marks
in a gold Type which tended to be heavily abraded, even on
the few surviving Mint States. (The identical reverse die
was used in Charlotte in the following year, 1860, with the
same comments regarding the reverse die being appropri-
ate for half eagles of that date as well.)
Pop 1; 3 finer, 2
in 63, 1 in 66
. (
PCGS # 8281
)
Estimated Value .................................... $11,000 - 12,000
Enlargement
1827
1860-C. PCGS graded Genuine, Repaired - XF Details
.
Mostly untoned. Only 14,813 struck. The reverse on the 1860-C
half eagles shows some lightness of strike on the neck and
among the lower details of the eagle’s claws and arrow feath-
ers, this being typical for the issue. This weakness appears to
be more a result of poor detail in the original coinage die, than
weakness of strike. Doug Winter attributed this to die rust:
"There is very extensive rust on the neck of the eagle, its wings
and claws, and over the shield and olive leaves. This rust makes
these details appear blurred. The borders, on the other hand,
are considerably sharper with strong lettering, denticles and a
bold mintmark." (
PCGS # 8285
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $800 - 850
1828
1860-D. Medium D PCGS graded Genuine AU Details
.
Cleaning. Mostly untoned and well struck. With the clouds of
war building, the Dahlonega Mint reduced production in 1860
and 1861. This is a fairly scarce Half Eagle from the end of this
Mint's existence. Only 14,635 minted. (
PCGS # 8286
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $750 - 800
1829
1861
.
NGC graded AU-58
. Popular Civil War issue, some lus-
ter can be found within the devices and around the stars, date
digits and throughouot the reverse legend. Production rose in
1861 when merchants, gold holders and miners, rushed to the
mint to convert their bullion or foreign coins and scrap gold into
coined money, fearing the effects from wartime conditions.
(
PCGS # 8288
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $550 - 600
