1854-D Large D $5 (1854-D Half Eagle Large D) NGC AU55 CAC. This lustrous, Southern branch mint 1854-D Half Eagle has beautiful coppery-rose undertones. Usually branch mint coins struck before the Civil War are lightly struck in areas. On some coins of this date and mint, the D mintmark is so weakly impressed that it is missing and the coin has to be identified by other characteristics. While the D on this piece is light, it is clearly visible. In addition the coin has an above average strike with full details on most of the stars, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. The grade of AU55 is confirmed by CAC, which means that the coin is of premium quality for the grade. The coin has the overall look of a piece that could have graded AU58.

The discovery of gold on Cherokee land in Georgia caused a large group of miners to come to the frontier town of Auraria, which is now Lumpkin County, Georgia. Its name derives from aurum, the Latin word for gold. Soon Dahlonega, which meant yellow money in Cherokee, would become the county seat. The miners need to convert oar and dust into bullion led to the establishment of private coiners, including the Bechtlers and Templeton Reid; however, because of a lack of standardization, there was pressure for a federal coinage to be created. The federal branch mint at Dahlonega was established to meet this need.

A building was erected in the town of Dahlonega. Power for its coining equipment came from steam produced in a boiler in the basement. Two small steam driven presses were on the first floor just above the boiler room. They could produce one coin per second. Because of the small size of the presses, the largest coins produced were half eagles.

In its population report as of October 2011, CAC shows only the present piece confirmed at AU55 with 2 better.