1860-C $5 (1860-C Half Eagle) PCGS AU55. This pre-Civil War, Southern branch mint, 1860-C Half Eagle has bright mint luster gleaming within its devices. The coin has an above average obverse strike with strong details on the centers of the stars, which is unusual for this date and mint. The reverse was struck from a defective die that left a blurry eagle. For the grade the surfaces are free of individually distracting marks that are worthy of description. There is sufficient separation between the coronet and Libertys hair and the lines of hair above the ear to warrant the grade.

When Mint Engraver William Kneass was unable to resume his duties after a debilitating stroke, Christian Gobrecht was asked to do his work, which included making a new half eagle that would be uniform with the eagle. The Liberty Head (No Motto on Reverse) half eagle was minted from 1839 to 1866.

Gobrechts design shows a left facing profile of Liberty wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet. Her hair is tied in the back and there are two loose curls that hang down her neck. Around the head are thirteen six-pointed stars, and the date is below the truncation. At the periphery of the coin are dentils. The coin also has a reeded edge. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle similar to the one on the Classic Head eagle. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the eagle, except for its wing tips, in an arc. The denomination is below, separated with dots, and written as FIVE D.

In the 1860s the Liberty Head half eagle was subjected to an unusual form of counterfeiting. Genuine gold coins were sawed in half edgewise and the gold was removed from the interiors. It was replaced by platinum discs of corresponding weight. A new edge was added to hide the change. The coins rang well, and had the proper weight and color. Although many solutions were proposed, the problem resolved itself when the market price of platinum exceeded that of gold. From time to time these altered coins appear. They are valuable today for their bullion content and, for some, as interesting curiosities.

Most coins of this date are heavily circulated. The average is found in XF condition. In its population report, PCGS has certified 10 1860-C half eagles in AU55 with 21 better.