BD-2, Rarity 4. The scarcer of the two varieties produced. This is the first year of issue for the Capped Head half eagle series that was struck through 1834. This series contains many of the greatest rarities in all of American numismatics. The 1813 is the most available half eagle of this type although I would hardly call it “common” with just 500-750 pieces known in all grades. The 1813 is seen in Uncirculated more than any other date of this type, making it the ideal issue for use in a high end gold type set. This piece was recently found in England and it has superb deep reddish-gold and green-gold color on the obverse and reverse. The fields lack the small chatter that is typical to the issue while the strike is excellent with boldly rendered centers and borders. There is a small scratch on the obverse between stars 5 and 6 that, in my opinion, removes this coin from an MS-64 grade (at the very least). Over the years I have seen some really attractive 1813 half eagles; more so than any other date of this type. But this particular coin has just about the nicest color I can recall having seen. It is finer in quality that the coins that have been bringing in the $22,000-25,000 range at auction and I believe that it would make a superb addition to an advanced set of early half eagles.

Narrow Mill variety. Half eagles from 1840 are found with two distinct varieties: the more common Narrow Mill and the Broad Mill. The Narrow Mill is relatively available in lower grades but it is scarce in the lesser Uncirculated range and rare in MS62 and above. It is also an historic issue on account of its status of being the first Liberty Head half eagle with a modified portrait. The present example has intense orange-gold color atop highly lustrous surfaces. It is very well produced with no weakness of strike and just a few small ticks in the fields. For the sake of identification, there are a few minor spots on the reverse at the first S in STATES. Trends jumps to $13,000 in the next grade up and with a population of only four better than this, it is unlikely that the serious Liberty Head half eagle collector will find a nicer 1840 than this.

Just in case you were wondering if any original Charlotte half eagles still exist, I invite you to take a careful look at this lovely coin. Not only is it completely original, it has the type of coloration that, were it a silver coin, would earn it an enormous premium from a fanatical collector. This 1847-C half eagle has, in addition to its lovely orange-gold and greenish color, a very sharp strike with the sort of detail that is seen on few half eagles from this mint. There is a considerable amount of mint luster present and just a few light ticks in the fields. A small mark between stars eight and nine serves as clear identification. The 1847-C is among the more common Charlotte half eagles from the standpoint of overall rarity but it is extremely scarce in Uncirculated with fewer than a dozen properly graded coins known to exist. In the recent Heritage May Long Beach sale, a PCGS MS61 1847-C half eagle that was not even remotely as nice as this coin sold for $11,500.
Ex: Carolina Circle collection (Heritage 1/08: 4222) at $11,615

Variety 2. This variety is identifiable by its lack of an “earring” or punchmark on Liberty’s ear and it also employs a leftover reverse from 1849 with the mintmark over the left side of the V in FIVE. This is among the rarest collectible varieties of all Charlotte half eagles and probably no more than ten or so are known. Medium to deep green-gold color can be seen on both sides and a good amount of frost is retained as well. There are a few light marks in the fields but I think this is a choice coin for the grade with good detail and well above-average eye appeal. What appears to be a black spot just in front of Liberty’s mouth is, in fact, a piece of fuzz that entered the slab as it was being sealed. The 1851-C is one of the scarcest Charlotte half eagles in higher grades and it is almost never seen choicer than AU55 to AU58.

The 1854-O is the second most available No Motto half eagle from this mint but locating a nice, properly graded AU58 or better example is far more challenging than most people realize. Almost every AU58 that I have seen in the last few years has been dipped and is very low end. This example is uncommonly original with really attractive medium to deep green-gold color that deepens slightly in the fields. It has clearly never been dipped or lightened and that makes it an unusual coin for the date. Its appeal is further enhanced by the fact that it is well struck and very clean with no marks worthy of mention noticeable to the naked eye. I have seen some very schlocky AU58 examples of this date sell in the $2,750-3,000 range and I feel that the small premium that I am asking for this very choice original piece is extremely fair.

Over the years I’ve stated again and again that AU58 coins are favorites of mine. When a coin is a real AU58, it tends to have better eye appeal than coins graded MS60, MS61 and sometimes even MS62. This 1856-C half eagle is a perfect example of why I dig sliders. It has the barest trace of friction in the fields which justifies the assigned grade but it has the naked eye appearance of an Uncirculated coin. Unlike many 1856-C half eagles, this piece is not dull and lifeless as it exhibits considerable frosty luster and nice light rose and orange-gold color. The surfaces are very clean with no marks of note on the obverse; a small mint-made planchet flake on the reverse is hidden in the horizontal lines of the shield and can easily be missed with the naked eye. This is one of the half dozen rarest half eagles from this mint and it is one of the two hardest dates from this decade to find along with the 1854-C.