1843-O $5 SM LT AU55 PCGS CAC

The 1843-O Liberty Head Half Eagle, Small Letters variety, represents one of the more challenging early Southern gold issues of the Type 1, No Motto design and one of the first New Orleans issue. Struck from a modest mintage of 19,075 pieces, with an estimated surviving population of roughly 120 examples across all grades, this AU55 PCGS CAC example displays the minimum wear. The obverse exhibits a warm, medium-to-deep golden hue with subtle coppery undertones, the color remaining even and undisturbed across the fields and devices. Surfaces are notably clean for the grade. As the first Small Letters variety produced at the New Orleans Mint in 1843, this half eagle holds particular appeal for Liberty Head specialists and collectors of early Southern gold, offering a combination of originality, sound preservation, and historical importance that is seldom encountered in this preservation tier. CAC Price $7,250. PCGS Price Guide $8,250. No recent CAC sale; however, the most relevant comp is a non-CAC AU58 sold for $8,400 05/25 SB. Considering the rarity, and how very few exist in UNC this represents excellent value to rarity.

PCGS Cert Verification #64620865

• PCGS Price Guide - $8,750
• PCGS POP - 7/9
• CAC Price Guide - $7,250
• CAC POP - 3/3
• PCGS Coin# - 8217