1855-C Liberty Head Half Eagle. Winter-Unlisted. Late Die State. AU-55 (PCGS).
This charming honey-gold and warm rose example offers undeniable originality and exceptional eye appeal for a lightly circulated C-Mint half eagle. Softly frosted surfaces are lustrous for the grade with sharp striking detail to virtually all features. The 1855-C is a median rarity in the Charlotte Mint five-dollar gold series in terms of total number of coins believed extant. Well worn and/or impaired coins are the norm among survivors from a mintage of 39,789 pieces. This aesthetically appealing, problem free AU represents an important bidding opportunity for advanced Southern gold collectors. The 2008 Winter reference on Charlotte Mint gold coinage reports only a single die pairing for this issue, the latest state of which displays a full cud break below the denomination FIVE D. The present example, however, was struck from a late state of a different reverse die with a bold, prominent cud break at the right border outside the letters AMER in AMERICA. The first 1855-C half eagle of this variety that your cataloger (JLA) can ever recall seeing, and likely very rare.
PCGS# 8262. NGC ID: 25UR.
PCGS Population: 17; 16 finer, just six of which are Mint State (MS-63 finest).
From the Fairmont Collection - CAG Set.

Estimate: $5000