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1838-D $5 MS62 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1838-D $5 MS62 PCGS.
1838-D $5 MS62 PCGS. Variety 1-A. (per Doug Winter's second edition and revised attribution system). The only variety produced this year. Early die state with no clashmarks seen at the throat of Liberty.RARITY INFORMATION: The 1838-D half eagle is among the most popular Dahlonega issues. It is the first half eagle struck in this mint and the only issue that employs the Classic Head design. It appears that some were saved as first-year-of-issue souvenirs, as it is slightly more available in higher grades than one might expect. An estimated 40-52 AUs are known in addition to six to eight Uncirculated pieces. NGC has graded one coin MS63 and three MS62 (this last number is probably inflated by resubmissions), while we are aware of four different 1838-D half eagles that have been graded MS62 by PCGS.STRIKE: The 1838-D half eagle is seen with a much sharper strike than its Classic Head counterpart from Charlotte. This piece shows very strong detail on the obverse with sharp definition on the curls, well struck stars, and crisp denticles. The reverse also has a sharp center but there is some weakness on the denticles from 10 to 5 o'clock.SURFACES: The obverse has a few light hairlines (not from cleaning) and some scattered marks including three small horizontal abrasions on the throat. The reverse has a few hairlines, especially over the eagle's head. For the date and grade, the surfaces are well above average and are very pleasing to the naked eye.LUSTER: The luster is excellent. The obverse is frosty with a semi-prooflike quality in the fields while the reverse is even more reflective. This reflectiveness is quite unusual for an 1838-D half eagle and it adds to the already high overall eye appeal.COLORATION: The surfaces appear to have been carefully dipped at one time and now have bright greenish-gold hues.EYE APPEAL: This coin has an excellent commercial appearance with bright luster, superb detail, and clean surfaces. It is accurately graded and certainly among the finest examples we have seen of this popular one-year type.COMPARABLES: In our January 2003 Ashland City Collection Sale, an NGC MS63 (lot 4727) brought $36,800. In our August 2000 sale, a PCGS MS62 (lot 7229) brought $21,850; it had earlier been sold as lot 870 in Bowers and Merena's October 1999 Bass II auction where it realized $29,900.PEDIGREE: Ex: Heritage 6/99 (6518), where it brought $33,350; North Georgia Collection/1999 FUN Sale (Heritage, 1/99), 7674, where it realized an amazing $40,250. This is the plate coin in the second edition of Doug Winter's "Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861" and it is listed in the current Condition Census as tied for the fourth finest known. Important notice: Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid.