1841-C $5 VF30 Certification #12481542, PCGS #8203

CAC

David Akers (1975/88)

The 1841-C is slightly more rare as a date than the 1839-C but not quite as rare as the 1840-C. The typical 1841-C is only VF or EF, but uncs do exist and are more often available than those dated 1839-C, 1840-C, or 1842-C.

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Doug Winter

The 1841-C is one of the more available of the early date Liberty Charlotte half eagles. It is a scarce coin in higher grades and it has become harder to find choice, original pieces than when I wrote the two earlier editions of this book.

The 1841-C is more available in lower grades than the 1840-C or either variety of 1842-C. It is most often seen in Very Fine and Extremely Fine and is sometimes available in the lower About Uncirculated range. Properly graded AU55 and AU58 pieces are quite rare and full Uncirculated pieces are extremely rare with just five or six estimated to exist.

STRIKE: The 1841-C shows a sharper strike than the 1840-C. The obverse is usually seen with sharp detail including nearly complete definition on the curls around the face. The stars are mostly sharp (except for the first two or three which are often weak) and many show full radial lines. I have seen at least one high grade example (it was first sold as Heritage 1998 ANA:7634 and is graded MS61 by PCGS) that had significant weakness of strike to the stars at the left possibly from a misaligned die. The reverse is also mostly well struck. The eagle’s right leg is slightly weak and some have weakness on the neck feathers but the typical coin has very sharp feathers and fully defined claws and shield lines. The rims on both sides are very broad and this gives the 1841-C half eagle a distinctive appearance.

SURFACES: Most show numerous abrasions and have a scuffy appearance. These marks are often deep and detracting. This issue is also prone to showing marks on the rims.

LUSTER: The luster on this issue tends to be better than average. High grade pieces show thick, frosty luster with a pleasing appearance. There are a few known that are semi-prooflike and, for some reason, the reverse is more reflective than the obverse.

COLORATION: Original, uncleaned pieces show rich orange-gold or deep yellow-gold color. Most have been dipped at one time and locating examples with original color has become very challenging.

EYE APPEAL: Until a few years ago, it was possible to locate attractive original Extremely Fine and About Uncirculated 1841-C half eagles without a great amount of difficulty. These seem to have disappeared and the typical example available to today’s collector is washed out and unappealing. The single most attractive 1841-C half eagle I have seen is the ex:Elrod coin... It has lovely deep reddish-gold hues.

DIE CHARACTERISTICS: Late die state coins have light clashmarks on the obverse below the nose and the hair bun. The reverse also shows light clashmarks below the wings.

DIE VARIETIES: Only a single variety is known.

Variety 1 (formerly Variety 3-C): The first 1 in the date is closer to the bust than to the denticles. The second 1 is closer to the denticles than to the bust. The reverse was used in 1841 and again in 1942 and 1943. It has a small mintmark. The right edge of the C is over the right edge of the V in FIVE while the left edge is over the side of the left serif of the V. The mintmark is slightly closer to the feathers than to the V.