1858 Liberty Head Half Eagle. AU-55 (PCGS). Original honey-orange surfaces are lustrous with most design elements boldly rendered. One of only 15,136 Philadelphia Mint half eagles of the date produced. The mintage for eagles of this date was just 2,521 pieces, as Philadelphias coinage presses were kept busy in this year churning out 211,714 double eagles. The 1858 inaugurates a run of low mintage fives from the parent mint that continues through 1860, and market appearances are usually few and far between. Prior to 2020, we last offered a circulation strike 1858 half eagle in 2013, while the intervening seven years saw several examples of the 1858-C, 1858-D and 1858-S pass through our sales. Clearly this is an underrated issue relative to the more highly regarded mintmarked issues of its era, the Fairmont-JBR specimen offered here representing a significant bidding opportunity for the astute gold collector. PCGS# 8276. NGC ID: 25V7. PCGS Population: 11; 18 finer, 13 of which are Mint State (MS-64+ finest). From the Fairmont Collection - JBR Set.
