1839-C $5.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

After many years of neglect, both the 1839-C and 1839-D half eagles have gained respect as one-year types. The 1839-C has become highly sought-after not only by collectors of Charlotte gold and half eagles specialists but by collectors looking for neat, "significant" coins. The present example is the second high grade 1839-C half eagle that I have been fortunate to handle in the last three months (after many years of going without one) and it is among the nicest circulated 1839-C half eagles that I can recall having seen. To the naked eye, this coin has the look of an MS61 due to its thick, satiny luster and lovely natural yellowish-gold and orange hues. It is remarkably well struck with great detail on the obverse and the reverse and the surfaces are very clean with just a few microscopic ticks visible below magnification. If you can find an Uncirculated 1839-C half eagle it is likely to cost more than double the amount of this lustrous, nearly Mint State piece. A great addition to a collection that is focused on coins with character. This is currently the only 1839-C half eagle graded AU55 that has been approved by CAC.

In Heritage's 8/11 auction, a non-CAC 1839-C half eagle in PCGS AU55 realized $9,775.