1843 Liberty Head Eagle. AU-55 (PCGS).Semi-prooflike fields support sharply struck devices on both sides of this vivid deep orange-gold example. A sizeable (by 1840s Liberty Head eagle standards) mintage of 75,462 pieces conceals both the absolute scarcity and high grade rarity of the 1843. Writing in the 2008 edition of the <em>Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins: 1795-1933</em>, Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth assert that the 1843 is more challenging to collect than such lower mintage issues as the 1840, 1842, 1842-O, 1845-O, and even the 1839 Type of 1838, Large Letters. With the extant population dwindling rapidly above the Choice EF grade level, the present example represents excellent value for Liberty Head eagle specialists.From The Des Moines Collection.