1844-C $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle PCGS XF45 (CAC) Ex. The Fairmont Collection

According to author Anthony Stautzenberger in his article “Rarity of the Charlotte Half Eagles” (Numismatic Scrapbook, May 1974, pp. 404-408), early 1844 saw the private Bechtler mint earn the undesirable reputation of striking underweight gold coins of uncertain fineness. Therefore the public felt that the coins emanating from the Charlotte Mint were the best medium of exchange in North Carolina and surrounding areas. That belief, combined with a fire at the Charlotte Mint that stopped mintage in 1845, resulted in the 1844-C $5 gold piece seeing extensive circulation.

Writes gold specialist Doug Winter, “The 1844-C is among the scarcest half eagles from this mint. When available, the typical piece is likely to grade Very Fine to Extremely Fine …” Out of its original mintage of 23,631, there have only been 124 pieces graded by PCGS. Of those, there are 23 in XF45 with 46 finer. Collectors Universe prices this issue as $6,500.00 in XF45. In CAC, there are 6 in XF45 with only 8 finer.

Illustration of the Charlotte Mint, where this rarity was produced in 1844.