1860-C $5.00 NGC AU53 CAC

This is the second-to-last half eagle made at the Charlotte mint and it is a scarcer issue in all grades. It is also one of the most crudely made with improperly hardened dies making it appear very worn on the reverse; even on higher grade examples. This piece is one of just a handful of 1860-C half eagles that remain with natural color and it has never been cleaned or dipped like most. The color is an attractive deep, even green-gold with a thin band of contrasting coppery-rose at the border. There are a couple of old marks in the fields that are nicely hidden by the depth of the color and a small horizontal strip in the left obverse field is as made.