In these states, coins were used nowhere, only banknotes, with the exception of coins of copper and silver for small change, of which the largest is fifty cents or a half piastre. Slightly larger coins you see not, for though gold ten piastre pieces called eagles, and also half eagles of five piastres, have been coined, they are never used in general circulation, as they have been displaced by the notes like the single units of silver. The latter were, at least during our sojourn here, so rare, that we never saw any such ‘dollar’ and were not even able to obtain one from the National Bank in Philadelphia for our collection.” — Carl August Gosselman, translated from Swedish, Resa I Norra Amerika, 1835</em>Frosty and boldly lustrous, this half eagle ranks among the very finest survivors of this date. Its surfaces are graced with even dark yellow tones that yield steely highlights when light accentuates the luster. The strike is exceptional, showing only the most trivial softness at the upper left corner of the reverse shield. Only minor contact marks are seen, including a little cluster above the date and two parallel nicks low on Liberty’s cheek. Faint hairlines are present, fewer on the reverse than obverse, and a tiny cut impacts the reverse rim above the second S in STATES. A field depression below F of OF was left from matter on the die at the moment of striking.The obverse die is crisp and unbroken, while the reverse shows delicate cracks joining the bases of ITED, and the letters of STATES, though the light crack that affects S is not connected to the one through TATES. Light strike doubling shadows the letters of the reverse legend, seen to the top and left of UNITED, the left of STATES, the base of OF, and the right of AMERICA. The top of N of UNITED is broken and filled in.Attractive and well preserved, the frosty brilliance of this coin is a marked contrast to the mirrored Proof that follows it in the next lot. The date style seen on this coin is unique to those struck from this obverse die among 1835 half eagles, distinguished by John McCloskey for its “fancy 8” instead of the “block 8” seen on the other two obverses known for this year. Five reverse dies are known, combined with the two obverses to make eight different combinations. According to John McCloskey, several of these reverses are seen on half eagles struck in years other than 1835.While Swedish naval officer Carl August Gosselman could find no gold coins on his visit to the United States, gold coins trickled back into circulation after the signing of the Act of June 28, 1834, and in late summer many notices of them appeared in the popular press. Mintages of gold coins blossomed after the law was changed to reduce their weight, and more than 371,000 half eagles were coined in 1835. The Philadelphia Mint issues of 1834 and 1836 were even larger, producing plenty of $5 gold pieces that saw use in commerce. With exportation no longer profitable, the Classic Head half eagles stayed in the United States and circulated for years. Because of this, well worn examples of this date are now easily obtained by collectors, but gems are unusually rare. PCGS has never certified an 1835 half eagle in MS-65 or higher. This coin is tied for finest certified of the date among those struck for circulation.PCGS# 8173. NGC ID: 25RV.
