An 1839-C Half Eagle

[BillJones]

Here is the last piece I needed to complete the Charlotte Mint type set as defined by the powers at be these days. The 1839-C half eagle is viewed as a separate type from the rest of the Liberty Head, No Motto half eagle series because the mint mark is on the obverse and the subtle differences in the design of Ms. Liberty (noted by the specialists) and the eagle on the reverse (not noted by the specialists).

 

In 1838 Christian Gobrecht began the process of introducing his Liberty Head design to the U.S. gold coinage. He started with the ten dollar gold piece, which the mint issued for the first time since 1804. In 1839 he introduced the five dollar gold piece, and in 1840 he completed the transition with the two and a half dollar gold coin.

 

The 1838 eagle ($10) and the 1839 half eagle ($5) are minor one year type coins because of the modifications that Gobrecht would make to his designs the following years. These changes are akin to the differences between the Type I and Type II Buffalo nickels, but few collectors recognize them perhaps because of the expense involved in collecting both types.

 

At any rate here are examples of the 1839-C half eagle and an 1846-O half eagle which will allow you to compare the two coins. The differences are subtle.

 

 

The "second type."

 

[Nutmeg Coin]

Nice coins, not "original" but those are hard to find in these rare dates/mm.

[BillJones]

The 1839-C is a PCGS AU-53, and it has been dipped. I knew that going into the auction bidding process, but this is a coin that can now bring "moon money" when it's "perfect," and I didn't want to spend "moon money" on this coin.

 

The 1846-O is conservatively graded by NGC as an MS-61, and it is a fully original coin in my opinion. In fact it might be among the finest known for that date and mint mark combination. The problem is with my photo, which is perhaps "too red" compared with the actual piece.

[MBA101]

Cool coins. It is tough to pick out the differences in design, but it is there...Thanks for the write-up!

[thebeav]

Besides the size of the reverse lettering, what are other differences ?

Paul

[RWB]

Nice 1846-O...very clean portrait and eagle!

 

[delta]

Thanks Bill for another illustrated expert commentary.

[jpcienkus]

Nice Bill and thanks for the education!

[BillJones]

Besides the size of the reverse lettering, what are other differences ?

Paul

 

Here is an 1842-C half eagle, large date variety, which might show the differences more clearly. And yes, this coin has been dipped so it's not "original," but with an estimated population of from 110 to 140 pieces, you don't always have choices. This is a PCGS AU-58. I could have bought an MS-61, also dipped, for almost triple the price.

 

 

 

Here are differneces that I noted:

 

* The bust of Ms. Liberty is smaller than it would be in subsequent years.

 

* Her hair style is slightly different.

 

* The curvature of her bust at the bottom of her neck is a little sharper.

 

* On the reverse the eagle is slightly smaller than it would be on the coins issued for the rest of the series.

[RWB]

Digits are of a more modern style....

[nunfa0]

Wonderful coins and write up. Thanks for sharing.

[BROADSTRUCK]

The 1839-C is a PCGS AU-53, and it has been dipped. I knew that going into the auction bidding process, but this is a coin that can now bring "moon money" when it's "perfect," and I didn't want to spend "moon money" on this coin.

 

I can understand your purchase yet still would like to smack whoever dipped a lower AU

[Conder101]

The shape of the hair bun is markedly different. On the upper lobe of the 39 C it is more rounded. On the 42 it is peaked and much closer to to the star. The bottom lobe is also larger and more rounded on the 39 C.

 

The large hair wave just above the ear on the 39 C is mostly horizontal culling down at the end. On the 42 he whole wave curves down and much more strongly.

 

And of course Bill mentioned the more strongly curved baseline of the bust on the 39 C.

 

On the reverse the shield on the eagles breast is broader on the 39 C. On the 1846 pictured above both the left and right sides of the shield are right below the edges of the eagles neck. On the 39 C the right edges line up but the shield extends further left than edge of the neck.

[physics-fan3.14]

Are the pics of the 39C yours? If so, they are a considerable upgrade.

 

While the 39C is a bit pale, she still looks attractive. I also appreciate the comparison of the sub-types. Very interesting!

[BillJones]

Are the pics of the 39C yours? If so, they are a considerable upgrade.

 

While the 39C is a bit pale, she still looks attractive. I also appreciate the comparison of the sub-types. Very interesting!

 

Yes the photos are mine. The 1839-C half eagle is a hard coin to photograph. The shots that Heritage and I took of it "straight on" makes it looks like a hairlined mess. If the photos are shot at certain angles, it's more attractive. I believe in showing a coin as it looks "in hand" as closely as possible. This piece looks like the photos I took.

 

This coin has some marks, but it's also struck on a planchet that had a lot of marks before the coin was struck. You can see them with a 10X glass. Dough Winter noted this situation with the 1839-C planchets in his book.

 

As for the color, it is "white gold" from having been dipped. The surfaces still have mint luster, and there are no hairlines from cleaning. It is reasonably attractive, and since I view this as some of an "outliner" type when comes to the Charlotte and Dahlonega mint type set, the money spent was all I wanted to put into it.

 

Dahlonega 1839-D half eagle is going to be a much harder nut to crack. It is quite a bit scarcer than the 1839-C, and the options for purchase are much narrower. There was a sister 1839-D coin to this one in the same auction, but it looked like it had fingerprints on it, and that drives me nuts. For that reason I passed.