1836 $5 Classic Head Half Eagle PCGS MS-65 Ex.SB Pulaski

Collectors Corner priced at $150,000. The Steamboat Pulaski, a luxury steamship enroute from Savannah, Georgia, to Baltimore, Maryland, met disaster on June 14, 1838, when a starboard boiler exploded at 11 p.m. about 30 miles off the North Carolina coast. The ship sank in approximately 45 minutes, resulting in the loss of around 128 lives, with only 59 survivors. The wreck lay hidden until 2018, when divers initially recovered a small cache of coins—including 14 gold and 24 silver pieces—from a confined area "no bigger than a cigar box." These surviving artifacts provide a tangible link to the personal fortunes carried by passengers during the antebellum period.

This rare 1836 Classic Head Half Eagle ($5 gold piece) is a remarkable survivor of the Pulaski tragedy and one of six graded Gem MS65 the highest grade obtainable. It exemplifies the new gold coinage introduced by the Mint Act of 1834. That legislation reduced coin weights to halt melting for bullion profit—especially severe for earlier Capped Head issues—and encouraged circulation. Mint Director Samuel Moore directed chief engraver William Kneass to create a fresh design: a youthful Liberty facing left with disheveled, curly hair secured by a headband inscribed "LIBERTY." From substantial mintages, few high-grade examples remain; this Gem Brilliant Uncirculated specimen displays razor-sharp details, booming luster, and fresh mint frost, making it a registry-quality treasure. As a preserved relic of both early American numismatics and a historic maritime catastrophe, it captivates collectors seeking exceptional pieces from a pivotal era.