1859-C $5 MS(PCGS#8281)

February 2026 Showcase Auction - The James A. Stack, Sr. Collection Part II

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

23019

Grade

AU58

Price

19,800

Lot Description

Die State I. A handsome and originally preserved half eagle with subtle pinkish-rose and silver highlights on dominant deep honey-olive color. As a Die State I example, the strike is superior for the issue with a nearly full obverse and only minimal evidence of rust interfering with the detail on the reverse. On the other hand, portions of the eagle are soft, and expectably so for an 1859-C $5. Writing in the 2008 edition of his reference on Charlotte Mint gold coinage, Doug Winter suggests that the reverse die for this issue may have received only one (as opposed to two) impressions from the hub, leaving the detail incomplete. At the threshold of Uncirculated preservation both sides retain much of the mint luster, which is typically granular in texture with a blend of satin and softly frosted qualities. There are no marks of consequence, and the in-hand appearance is impressively smooth.<p>This issue's respectable mintage of 31,847 pieces was achieved using deposits of mostly North Carolina gold, although some of the $22,762 in South Carolina gold deposited from July 1858 through June 1859 probably also went into the 1859-C half eagle issue. These coins circulated extensively, as expected for a pre-Civil War era Southern gold issue, and the typical survivor in numismatic hands grades Very Fine or Extremely Fine. The James A. Stack, Sr. Collection delivers a condition rarity in premium Choice AU as certified by PCGS and verified by CAC. It is one of the most visually appealing and desirable 1859-C half eagles that we have ever had the privilege of bringing to auction, and will surely sell for a strong premium to a discerning collector.