1838 $5 Classic Head Half Eagle NGC MS-63 Ex.SB North Carolina - Finest of only (3) Classic Head $5s recovered!

Ex. Steamboat North Carolina. The 1838 Classic Head $5 Half Eagle, recovered from the wreck of the Steamship North Carolina, represents a captivating piece of American numismatic and maritime history.

Minted at the Philadelphia Mint in the final year of the Classic Head series (designed by William Kneass), this coin features Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed "LIBERTY" on the obverse and a classic heraldic eagle on the reverse. With a mintage of 286,588 pieces, the 1838 is relatively available in circulated grades, yet examples with documented shipwreck provenance are exceedingly rare and highly desirable among advanced collectors.

This specimen was among the extraordinary artifacts salvaged in September 2019 by divers from Blue Water Ventures International and Endurance Exploration Group from the SS North Carolina site, approximately 20 miles off the South Carolina coast (often called "The Copper Pot"). The mail packet steamer sank on July 25, 1840, after a catastrophic collision with its sister ship, the Governor Dudley, in the early morning hours, claiming lives and cargo—including passenger wealth in gold coins.

Remarkably, only three (3) U.S. gold coins were recovered during the initial dives: one 1836 (MS62) and two 1838 Classic Head half eagles (MS62 and the present MS63). These pristine survivors, buried in 3–4 feet of sand at 60–70 feet depth, often display distinctive sea-exposed patina or luster that enhances their eye appeal and historical allure.

Certified with special "Ex: SS North Carolina" labeling, this coin offers direct provenance to a lesser known but significant 1840s maritime disaster, far rarer than treasures from wrecks like the SS Central America or Pulaski. A true treasure for the connoisseur of shipwreck exonumia and early U.S. gold.