1840-C Half Eagle (1840-C $5) NGC AU58. This buttery, branch mint 1840-C Half Eagle shows bright mint luster outlining the devices. There are a couple of wispy, light abrasion marks on the obverse and a few small alloy marks on the reverse as well as very light wear on the highest points of the design, in keeping with the grade. The strike shows central weakness on both sides, especially the obverse, which is typical for this date and mint. Christian Gobrecht designed the half eagle, which was produced from 1839 to 1908, with the motto added in 1866.

The coin uses the Liberty Head Coronet motif that shows Liberty in profile facing left. Her hair is tied with beads in the back with two curls coming down her neck. She wears a LIBERTY inscribed coronet and is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars above and the date below. The motif is taken from a Benjamin West painting of Venus. It was also used with modifications for the Large Cents of 1839. Around the periphery on both sides are dentils. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace and preparedness. The required inscription is in an arc above, interrupted by the tips of the wings and the denomination is below, written as FIVE D., separated by dots.

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 the South until 1848, when it was discovered in California.

All Charlotte gold is rare and eagerly sought by collectors and investors. The 1840-C half eagle had an original mintage of 18,992. In its population report NGC shows 11 in AU58 with 5 better.