1852-C $5 (1852-C Half Eagle) NGC MS62. This Southern branch mint gold 1852-C Half Eagle shows subdued mint luster within its devices. The surfaces are clean and free of distractions suggestive of a higher grade. However, the strike is rather soft on both sides especially in the central portions of the design.

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the coins obverse shows the head of Liberty facing left wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. There are thirteen stars around the head near the border. The date, 1852, is beneath the bust. The reverse features an eagle with outstretched wings and a shield on its breast. In its left talon are three arrows and in its right is an olive branch. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is near the border, and the denomination FIVE D. is below the eagle. The C mintmark is centered between the juncture of the olive branch and arrows and the denomination.

A total of over five million dollars in gold coinage was made at the Charlotte Mint. During its twenty-three years of operation, three denominations of gold coins were made. The gold dollar was made from 1849-1853 and in 1855, 1857, and 1859. The quarter eagle was made from 1838-1844 and from 1846-1852, and in 1858, and 1860. The half eagle was made from 1838-1844 and 1846-1861. Unlike the mint at Dahlonega, no record exits of Charlotte making three dollar gold coins. In total there are 51 Charlotte gold issues most of which have small mintages.

All Charlotte gold coins are scarce. Much of it is rare, and some is extremely rare because of a combination of low mintages and melting overseas. Many coins that were minted before the Civil War were used to purchase armaments abroad. Much of this coinage was melted in Europe to make coins of the realm. Only a tiny fraction of the C mint coinage survives today. One example is the Open Wreath Gold Dollar of 1849-C. This issue is so rare that it was one of the few missing in the Louis Eliasberg gold collection.

Charlotte gold is highly sought after by collectors and investors as well as those interested in collections with a Civil War connection. In its population report, NGC shows 10 examples certified in MS62 with 17 better.