1839 Liberty Head Half Eagle. EF-40 (PCGS). A lovely honey-orange example with undeniable originality to appreciably lustrous, frosty surfaces. Well struck overall and quite smooth for having seen light commercial use. Christian Gobrechts redesign of the half eagle in 1839 introduced one of the longest running series in United States coinage. His modified portrait of Liberty is smaller than that on previous half eagle types, with braided hair along the forehead and a bun at the back of the head. The reverse design is similar to the outgoing type, although Gobrecht reworked the eagle to give it a more robust appearance. The 1839 Philadelphia Mint issue circulated extensively, and the vast majority of survivors are well worn, if not also impaired. With superior EF quality, the coin offered here is sure to find many eager buyers. PCGS# 8191. NGC ID: 25S7. From the Fairmont Collection - Rhone Set.
