Lot 3775
1838-D $5 Classic Head NGC graded AU Details Mint Error. Obverse lamination. Improperly cleaned. Only 20,583 minted. A nice well struck coin. From 1834 through 1838 large quantities of Classic Head half eagles were produced with bullion supplied from gold production in North Carolina and Georgia and by gold shipments received from France as an indemnity for spoliation against American commerce during the Napoleonic Wars. Most of the mintage was accomplished at Philadelphia. In 1838, the branch mints at Charlotte and Dahlonega opened and began producing coins for the first time. Such mintmarked pieces are rare today.
The total business strike mintage of the Classic Head type totaled 2,113,612 coins. In addition, a few dozen Proofs were made for presentation and display.
The Type set collector can readily obtain examples of Philadelphia issues in this span in grades from Very Fine to Extremely Fine. AU coins are scarce, Uncirculated pieces are elusive, and superb Uncirculated coins are very rare. The C and D mint issues, on the other hand, are all rarities and valued highly as such (PCGS # 8178) .
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
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| Realized $2,760 |
