1844-D $5 MS64 NGC....

Description

Condition Census 1844-D Half Eagle, MS64

1844-D $5 MS64 NGC. Gold was discovered in a big way in the Appalachian regions of Georgia and North Carolina during the 1820s. At the time, transporting the gold ore from the mining regions to the Mint at Philadelphia was an arduous and dangerous task. Several private mints were established near the gold fields to allow the miners to avoid the risk and expense of shipping their gold overland to Philadelphia. Jealous of their coining powers and anxious to properly exploit this new source of wealth, Congress decided to establish branch mints at convenient locations near the gold fields. The Act of March 3, 1835, created the three Southern branch mints at New Orleans, Charlotte, and Dahlonega. Construction delays and personnel problems plagued all the new mints, and coinage finally commenced in 1838. The mints at Charlotte and Dahlonega coined only gold denominations during their short careers. The gold deposits of the region were gradually depleted, and the great California Gold Rush of 1849 enticed many local miners to abandon their claims and go West. The Confederacy seized the mints at the start of the Civil War but lacked the resources to operate them after the supply of coin blanks was used up. The mints at Charlotte and Dahlonega were never reopened after the war and produced no coinage after 1861. Today, advanced collectors highly prize gold coins with the coveted C and D mintmarks.
From an original mintage of 88,982 pieces, the 1844-D is one of the more available issues from the Dahlonega Mint in circulated grades. About Uncirculated examples are encountered with some regularity. The situation changes dramatically at the Mint State level. There are eight to 10 survivors in lower Mint State grades; Gem coins are unknown. The present near-Gem coin qualifies as one of the three finest certified by the leading grading services. Many dates from the Dahlonega Mint display characteristic weak strikes. The 1844 issue is one of the few that is generally seen with above-average striking quality. The coin offered here has an outstanding strike, with strong detail in the stars, hair, and eagle. The fields are semiprooflike, with delicate shades of orange and green toning. The accent of green toning near the rim is reminiscent of the Pittman coin. There are few distractions, none worthy of individual notice. A breathtaking coin overall, certainly one of the finest examples known. Census: 2 in 64, 0 finer (8/08).(Registry values: P2)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25T9, PCGS# 8221, GSID# 8976)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Mintage: 88,982

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

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