1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle. Winter-1, the only known dies. AU-55+ (PCGS).Virtually full, soft mint frost blends with rich honey-orange color on this lovely 1856-C half eagle. Both the technical quality and eye appeal are superior for the assigned grade. The strike is sharp, with uncommon fullness of detail that even extends to the eagles head and neck. It is as close to complete as one could realistically hope to obtain for the issue. Impressively smooth in hand, this coin will please even the most discerning collectors. An underrated issue among Southern gold coins, the 1856-C vies with the 1839-C and 1860-C as the ninth rarest Charlotte Mint half eagle. Examples are rarer than a mintage of 28,457 pieces might imply, with no more than 250 to 300 survivors in all grades. According to Doug Winter in the 2008 edition to the book <em>Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint: 1838-1861</em>, Mint State survivors number only about six or seven individual coins. This minimally circulated example - very scarce in its own right - is an attractive alternative worthy of the strongest bids.PCGS# 8267. NGC ID: 25UW.PCGS Population: 2; 26 finer, 11 of which are Mint State (MS-63 finest).From the Fairmont Collection - CAG Set.
