1853-C Liberty Head Half Eagle. Winter-1. Die State IV. AU-55 (PCGS). CAC.

Deep honey-olive color displays blended khaki-orange patina. A touch of softness to the central high points is noted solely for accuracy, as the strike is generally sharp with most features fully defined in the absence of significant wear. There are no marks of note to surfaces that are impressively smooth in hand. A heavily circulated issue, the 1853-C half eagle is much scarcer than a mintage of 65,571 pieces might imply. With the typical survivor well worn and often impaired, this original Choice AU example represents an important bidding opportunity for the collector assembling an advanced Southern gold collection. Winter-1 is the most common die marriage of the 1853-C issue, but the author (2008) describes Die State IV examples are "very rare." In this advanced state of the dies the obverse exhibits pronounced cud breaks at 11 and 2 o'clock, while on the reverse a spindly crack meanders through the letters CA in AMERICA and E D in the denomination before terminating within the denticles below the V in FIVE.

PCGS# 8254. NGC ID: 25UE.

CAC Population: 10 in all AU grades.

From the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set.

Estimate: $ 3800