Half Eagle -> 1843-C

Vitae

  • Half Eagle 1838 - 1861
  • Liberty Head 1839 - 1861
  • Diameter: 22.5 millimeters
  • Fineness: .900
  • Weight: 129 grains
  • Designer: Christian Gobrecht
  • Edge: Reeded
  • Coiner: John R. Bolton

During this year, the mint experimented with the size of the lettering on the reverse of half eagles from all four mints. The Charlotte Mint employed only a small letters reverse. By 1844, all the mints had a uniform large letters reverse. The true rarity of the 1843-C has only been fully appreciated for a short period of time. It is an average struck issue within the series of Charlotte half eagles. It is among the most difficult coins from this mint to find with clean surfaces and just a few have survived without having been cleaned or dipped. Despite a mintage figure that is much higher than other dates from the early 1840's, there are only 95-105 known with nearly 80% grading Extremely Fine or below. Just 15-17 are accounted for in About Uncirculated grades plus an additional four or five in Mint State.

Condition Census

  1. Private collection, ex Heritage Rare Coin Galleries, Stack's/RARCOA/Akers Numisma 11/95: 1456 (at $33,000), Winthrop Carner, Stack's 5/95: 449 (at $55,000), Ed Milas collection, Bowers and Merena 6/91: 1509 (at $41,800). Graded MS-64 by NGC.
  2. Bowers and Merena Norweb I (10/87): 810, ex New Netherlands via private treaty on 7/5/56. Mint State-62.
  3. Paul Dingler collection, ex Elrod collection. Graded MS-61 by PCGS. The plate coin in this book.
  4. Florida dealer, 1/98, ex National Gold Exchange (Mark Yaffe) inventory, David Akers Numismatics John Jay Pittman sale: 964. Later graded MS-61 by NGC.
  5. Bowers and Merena 1/94: 1391. Graded MS-60 by NGC.