1860-C Half Eagle (1860-C $5) NGC AU58. Shimmering mint luster outlines the devices of this pre-Civil War branch mint 1860-C Half Eagle. Abrasion, handling marks, and a couple of nicks on Libertys face keep this coin from being considered mint state. The obverse strike is above average; however, the reverse shows overall weakness which is typical for this date and mint. Since this coin is noted for its weak and flat reverse strike, it is graded based on the obverse details.

On the obverse a profile of Liberty faces left. On her head is a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Beads are used to loosely tie her hair in the back, and two curls fall down her neck. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, and the date is underneath the truncation of the neck. Dentils are around the periphery of both coins. On the reverse a small heraldic eagle grasps an olive branch, symbol of peace, in its right talon and arrows, emblematic of preparedness, in the left. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encloses the eagle with the denomination written as FIVE D. and separated by dots at the bottom underneath the eagle. The mintmark, C, for Charlotte, is under the juncture of the arrow and olive branch and above VE in FIVE.

All Charlotte gold is rare and eagerly sought by investors and collectors. The original mintage of the 1860-C half eagle was 14,813. In its population report NGC shows 114 in all grades. In AU58 there are 23 with 19 better.