1834 $5 Classic Head Half Eagle, Crosslet 4 PCGS AU50

A coin such as the 1834 $5 Classic Head half eagle, Crosslet 4, is rarely offered for sale. PCGS has graded 1,859 of the 1834 Plain 4—but only 120 of the 1834 Crosslet 4. PCGS has graded 10 examples of the Crosslet 4 in AU50, with 46 finer. Collectors Universe gives this variety a price of $10,000.00 in AU50.

U.S. gold specialist David Akers writes, "The 1834...Crosslet 4 is many times more rare than the 1834 Plain 4. It has appeared at auction less often than any other date of this type including the 1838-C, and actually is just as rare as many of the more well known dates of the previous two types. Most known specimens are well worn with VF to EF being typical and AU and UNC virtually unavailable."

Close-up photo of the 1834 Plain 4 and the 1834 Crosslet 4, courtesy of the PCGS Coin Facts website.