1841 $5 XF40 Certification #42682839, PCGS #8202

Garrett and Guth in their "Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins" comment, "As the low mintage of just over 15,800 coins suggest, the 1841 half eagle is scarce. In circulated condition this date is just about as rare as many of the branch-mint coins of the era." David Akers, in his book "United States Gold Coins - An Analysis of Auction Records - Volume IV - Half Eagles" describes the 1841 half eagle as "...very rare in all grades. It has appeared at auction less often than any of the 1839 or 1840 coins and also less often than the 1841-C or 1841-D." Walter Breen's monograph "Varieties of United States Half Eagles" (1964-1966) states, "There are no discernable cracks on specimens so far seen by me." The coin above shows significant cracking on the reverse die and is possibly one of the last batch of 3,633 coins delivered on Dec. 31, 1841 (pg. 5). It is interesting to note that PCGS CoinFacts estimates a surviving population of 1841 half eagles at 150, yet the current graded population by both PCGS and NGC is only 134, including resubmissions. A typo by PCGS? Should the estimated population be instead 100 or less?

David Akers

This date is very rare in all grades. It has appeared at auction less often than any of the 1839 or 1840 coins and also less often than the 1841-C or 1841-D. However, it is not quite as rare in strictly uncirculated condition as any of the dates just mentioned since a small number of relatively choice examples exist.