1838-C Half Eagle - 1838-C $5 NGC AU53. Here is a low-mintage, Southern branch mint 1838-C Half Eagle with a spectacular die crack on its reverse. The coin, made from yellow and greenish-gold, is original as seen from these colors. Its surfaces are clean for the grade with no significant abrasion marks worthy of individual description. The reverse rims are strong indicating that the piece was well struck. The die crack, which does not affect the grade, is diagonal, from rim to rim across the reverse. All 1838-C half eagles were struck from this reverse die, and the die crack is present of every example. 

William Kneass designed the Classic Head half eagle, which was minted from 1834 to 1838. He chose to use Reichs Classic Head motif that was used on large cents of 1808 to 1814. Kneass also adapted Reichs eagle from the five dollar piece of 1807. The design of the coin shows a profile of Liberty facing left. Her curly hair is held with a band that is inscribed LIBERTY. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, with the date below. Around the periphery are dentils on both sides. The coin has a reeded edge.

The reverse shows a heraldic eagle whose head is turned to the left. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows, symbols peace and preparedness. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appears in an interrupted arc around the coin with the denomination, written as 5 D. below. Missing is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, which was removed from the reverse to signify the change in weight from 135 grains to 129. It seems that Mint Director Samuel Moore was looking for a reason to phase out the motto for several years, and the change in weight mandated by Congress was the perfect opportunity. The weight and fineness of the coin were changed in order to prevent continued melting for bullion purposes. As a result most of the original gold coins that were minted prior to1834 were turned in to the mint, much of it to be used to make the new half eagles.

Kneass (pronounced Niece) was the second Chief Engraver. He served from 1824 until his death in 1840. In addition to the Classic Head Half Eagle, his classic head motif was used on the quarter eagles of 1834 to 1839. Kneass modified Reichs Capped Bust motif for silver coinage for the years 1829 to 1837 and the half dime in 1829.

For the last five years of his life, Kneass suffered from the results of a severe stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side. For those years, his assistant Christian Gobrecht did the die and pattern work at the Mint. When Kneass died in 1840, Gobrecht succeeded him as Chief Engraver.

Kneass was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint and served from 1824 until his death in 1840. Kneass was a field engineer in the War of 1812 and helped fortify the city of Philadelphia. He was an engraver of plates for books and had his business on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, which was a popular meeting place for people of culture.  In addition to line engraving he also made intaglio prints. He worked in two firms, Kneass & Delaker and Young & Kneass & Co. At the Mint, Kneass was known as a popular and useful Engraver, who worked well and quickly to furnish all the dies that were needed for coinage during his time of office. He was remembered as, a warm gentleman of the old-school, who had the rare quality of engaging and winning the esteem and affection of children and youth. Kneass designed the Classic Head motif for the quarter eagle and half eagle. He also was responsible for modifying John Reichs Capped Bust design for the dime through half dollar for 1829 to 1837. In addition he modified the Capped Bust design for use on the half-dime of 1829.

In the 1790s gold was accidentally discovered in North Carolina. The first United States Gold Rush took place in the early 1800s in North Carolina and Georgia. In the area around Charlotte, North Carolina almost 100 gold mines were in operation. Second only to farming, prospecting for gold became the main source of employment in North Carolina. The most gold produced in the United States came from North Carolina until 1848, when it was discovered in California.

The gold that was produced at Charlotte had to be refined and standardized so it would have commercial value. Private mints like the Bechtlers and Templeton Reids opened to assay the new gold and convert it to coinage. In order to standardize this coinage and because transportation to Philadelphia was so poor as a result of bandits, unfriendly Indians, and poor roads, a branch mint in Charlotte was opened in 1836.

The 1838-C Half Eagle had the lowest mintage of the type. Because the coin circulated widely, it is difficult today to find examples above XF condition. In its population report, NGC shows 7 1838-C half eagles at the AU53 grade level.