1853-C $5 AU50 PCGS....

Description

Spectacular 1853-C Five Dollar
AU50, Variety 21-H
Reverse Retained Cud

1853-C $5 AU50 PCGS. Variety 21-H. Bold mintmark. The 1 in the date is totally free of the bust, and the 3 is slightly closer to the denticles than to the bust. Housed in a green-label PCGS holder, this AU specimen displays well defined design elements, and lightly marked yellow-gold surfaces that retain luster in the recesses.
This fascinating piece has a spectacular retained cud on the reverse below VE D. A heavy die crack begins at the border below the right base of I in FIVE, angles up to the right to entirely cover the bottom of the E, touches the lower left corner of the D, then returns to the border below that letter. The crack forms a retained cud, with the border dentils dramatically shifted out of alignment, indicating that the break in the die was still attached to the die shaft, pivoting below the die surface.
Doug Winter states that the die break (or crack) forms below FIVE on late states of the 20-H die combination, with the mintmark somewhat weak. For variety 21-H, he mentions that examples exist with both weak and strong mintmarks. It appears that the weak or bold mintmark is not a function of die state. Obverses 20 and 21 are similar enough that they can be easily confused. But obverse 20 eventually forms two rim breaks after the reverse crack first appears. Still later cracked states of reverse H exist from a second obverse die without rim breaks.
It appears that the order of striking was:
1. Variety 20-H. Early state without obverse or reverse die cracks.
2. Variety 20-H. Intermediate state with light reverse die cracks.
3. Variety 20-H. Late state with obverse rim breaks and light reverse cracks.
4. Variety 21-H. Early state with light reverse cracks.
5. Variety 21-H. Intermediate state with heavier reverse cracks.
6. Variety 21-H. Late state with retained cud on reverse.
Unrecognized by Winter, the late state 21-H with the retained cud at VE D seems to be quite rare, with only two or three examples appearing in our auction archives.(Registry values: P3)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25UE, PCGS# 8254, GSID# 9003)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Mintage: 65,571

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.

View Certification Details from PCGS