1853-C $5 MS64 PCGS. Variety 2....

Description

1853-C Half Eagle, MS64
Tied for Finest at Both Services
Amazing Preservation and Eye Appeal

1853-C $5 MS64 PCGS. Variety 2. The Charlotte Mint accomplished a production of 65,571 half eagles in 1853. Although that represented a decrease of nearly 10% compared to the previous year, the 1853-C remains one of the more collectible North Carolina five dollar issues. Writing in Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint: 1838-1861 (2008), Doug Winter ranks the 1853-C 18th out of 24 issues overall and 19th out of 24 in high grades. He estimates 250 to 300 coins exist, including nine to 12 in Mint State. Curiously, Winter somehow missed this particular example when detailing the finest coins known to him. However, it has ranked among the finest 1853-C half eagles known to the collecting community at least since January 1995, when it was sold as part of the Commodore Matthew C. Perry Collection as MS64 NGC.

Today, the coin is tied for finest with one other coin at PCGS (ex: Boyd-Bell-Bareford-Milas-Bass). Two submissions are also reported in MS64 at NGC. One of those may still be a duplication of this coin. It was struck from Winter's Variety 2 die pair with the edge of the 1 in the date aligned with the tip of the bust and a Strong C mintmark. This is a late die state example with a retained cud between 5:30 and 6:30 on the reverse rim. In 1995, the Bowers and Merena cataloger noted its "Highly reflective fields and frosted design motifs richly toned in shades of iridescent gold." This near-Gem retains that lovely appearance with clean orange-gold surfaces and bold strike definition. The only points of softness are Liberty's curls below ER and the first two stars. Well worth a premium bid to a series branch mint gold specialist. Population: 2 in 64, 0 finer (11/22).
Ex: Commodore Matthew C. Perry Collection (Bowers and Merena, 1/1995), lot 1201, realized $47,300; Baltimore Auction (Stack's Bowers, 10-11/2014), lot 10043, realized $38,187.50.(Registry values: P3)

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

Weight: 8.36 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

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