1862 Liberty Head Half Eagle. AU-53+ (PCGS). CAC. An outstanding rarity that is sure to excite advanced collectors specializing in Liberty Head gold coinage. This is a beautiful AU half eagle with vivid reddish-honey color on predominantly lustrous surfaces. The texture is soft and satiny, and the strike is sharp throughout. It is difficult for us to imagine a more appealing About Uncirculated survivor of this key date half eagle.<p>The suspension of gold specie payments by Eastern banks in December 1861 resulted in an immediate reduction in half eagle output at the Philadelphia Mint. Whereas the facility delivered a record (for the era) total of 688,084 circulation strikes in 1861, the mintage for the 1862 is just 4,430 pieces. The 1862 is a highly elusive issue with <em>PCGS CoinFacts</em> estimating that fewer than 100 coins are extant in all grades. Particularly rare in Mint State, the significance of this superior quality and highly attractive AU-53+ cannot be overstated. From the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set.
