1834 $5 Classic Head, Crosslet 4 MS(PCGS#8172)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3195

Grade

MS62+

Price

43,200

Lot Description

Spectacular condition rarity for this legendary variety of the first-year 1834 Classic Head half eagle. Semi-reflective fields enliven highly lustrous surfaces that show a dominant frosty texture. The braided curls above Liberty's forehead and the curl that dangles left of her ear show some typical softness, but other design elements are sharp from center to rim. The reverse is particularly noteworthy for its fullness of strike and, indeed, this is an exceptionally well produced coin for the type. Also exceptionally well preserved, the surfaces are free of sizable marks with only wispy signs of handling. Full, vivid golden-yellow color blankets both sides and rounds out a truly impressive list of physical attributes for this lovely coin.<p>The most popular and avidly sought of the nine die marriages known for the 1834 Classic Head half eagle, the HM-9 is not the rarest, but it is the only one that corresponds to the Crosslet 4 <em>Guide Book</em> variety of the issue. Since only 160 examples of HM-9 are believed extant, as opposed to more than 2,500 coins for the eight Plain 4 die marriages combined, the absolute scarcity of the Crosslet 4 and its rarity relative to its Plain 4 counterpart is obvious. The mintage of the Crosslet 4 variety is unknown, presumably small given the scarcity of survivors, and certainly included in the half eagle mintage that the Mint reported for calendar year 1835.<p>The Crosslet 4 is a legendary rarity in Mint State with few coins listed across both the PCGS and NGC population reports. Daryl J. Haynor (2020) states that the Pogue-Virginian Collection specimen offered in our August 2022 Auction is unequivocally the finest known example of this <em>Guide Book</em> variety. We concur that it is finer than the single MS-64 certified by NGC, which appeared in several of our sales from 2003 through 2008, and has since been certified by PCGS as MS-63+. The offered coin also numbers among the finest 1834 Crosslet 4 Classic Head half eagles extant, and one of the finest that we have ever had the privilege of bringing to auction. It ranks near the very top of the Condition Census for the variety, especially given that none of the higher graded examples at PCGS have met with CAC approval. A leading highlight of the Chicago Collection, this amazing example is worthy of the strongest bids commensurate with its exceptional quality, superior eye appeal, and numismatic significance.