1854-C Liberty Head Half Eagle. Winter-2. Weak C. MS-63 (PCGS).，An intriguing example that offers outstanding condition rarity as well as a glimpse into the challenges faced by the Charlotte Mint in producing a high quality coinage product. Both sides exhibit vivid patina in a blend of orange and rose-gold shades. Luster quality is outstanding for the issue with ample evidence of a satin to modestly semi-reflective finish from the dies. The strike is typical of the both the date and the issuing mint, the detail noticeably soft in isolated areas to include the lower left obverse periphery, the upper portion of Libertys portrait, and the lower third of the eagle on the reverse. Struck from the Winter-2 die pairing of the issue, the Weak C variety, with the mintmark lightly impressed into the die above the upright of the letter E in FIVE. Many examples of this variety were struck from partially clogged dies, ample evidence of which is seen here in the form of numerous shallow strikethroughs on both sides. The most prominent of these strikethroughs are located in the obverse field before the date and in front of Libertys chin, and on the reverse in the mintmark area, the final listed of which further weakens the C. The mintmark is discernible with patience, however, and both the level of surface preservation and eye appeal are superior in a half eagle from the Charlotte Mint.<p>An underrated and often overlooked issue, the 1854-C is the scarcest of the post-1849 dates in the Charlotte Mint half eagle series. It is also rarer than such earlier date issues as the 1838-C, 1839-C, 1843-C and 1848-C. Although this issues mintage of 39,283 pieces is respectable for a pre-Civil War era Southern gold coin, the 1854-C is elusive even in circulated grades. Mint State survivors are rare, the present example numbering among the finest known to PCGS. A significant and fleeting bidding opportunity for the advanced Southern gold enthusiast.<p>The 2008 edition of the reference <em>Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint: 1838-1861</em> by Douglas Winter mistakenly combines this coins provenance with the (different) example that appeared as lot 2151 in our (Bowers and Merenas) June 2002 Isaac Edmunds Collection sale.，Ex Heritages Long Beach Sale of June 1998, lot 6354; Heritages Long Beach Signature Sale of May 2008, lot 3250; Heritages FUN Signature Auction of January 2014, lot 5451.，
