Lot 1536
1859-C $5 Liberty. NGC graded EF-45. Well struck, untoned. A scarce Charlotte issue as only 331,847 were minted, mostly seen in lower grades. Pop 16; 95 finer. The reverse strike is typically soft in most places for this date, and high-grade specimens are mainly judged by the overall quality of the obverse. Most of the survivors from that mintage are VF or, at best, EF. Douglas Winter calls the date Rarity-7 in AU preservation, but that has to be modified to Rarity-5 indicating that more than a hundred are known in this grade and higher. The present coin will attract wide attention.
The reverse of virtually every known 1859-C half eagle is struck weakly. Many of the known impressions from the die also show evidence of die rust. This same reverse die was used in Charlotte in the following year, 1860, with the same comments regarding the reverse die being appropriate for half eagles of that date as well (PCGS # 8281) .
Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500.
The Arden Collection.
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| Realized $2,300 |
