1864 $5 MS(PCGS#8296)

June 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2370

Grade

AU55

Price

20,400

Lot Description

One of several key date Liberty Head half eagles from the Civil War era, the offering of any circulation strike 1864 represents a significant bidding opportunity for gold specialists. The lovely Choice About Uncirculated surfaces of the present example feature vivid, bright pinkish-honey color. Much of the original frosty finish remains, and the devices are sharply defined throughout from a well executed strike. A touch of glossiness and a few faint hairlines are noted for accuracy, but there are no singularly distracting marks.<p>As the slightly higher mintage might suggest, the 1864 is not quite as rare as the 1863. Yet with a mere 4,170 circulation strikes produced, the absolute rarity of this issue is beyond doubt. All Philadelphia Mint half eagles of the 1862 to 1865 era are low mintage rarities, as there was little bullion available for coinage once Eastern banks suspended gold specie payments in late 1861. What's more, many of the Philadelphia Mint gold coins that were struck during that era were subsequently melted, leaving few survivors for today's collectors. The extant population for the 1864 half eagle is estimated at just 60 to 75 coins (per <em>PCGS CoinFacts</em>). Only two Mint State grading events are listed at PCGS, followed by the AU-58+ from our April 2022 sale of the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set offering as CC#2 for the issue. Astute bidders take note - it is unlikely that a finer circulation strike 1864 half eagle than this PCGS AU-55 example will be available for acquisition any time soon.