1848-D Half Eagle - 1848-D $5 NGC AU55 CAC. This Choice AU, pre-Civil War, Southern branch mint 1848-D Half Eagle has a strong obverse strike and some remaining mint luster in protected areas of both sides. Full details are present on the centers of the stars and the highest points of Libertys hair. While the coin shows some wear in keeping with the grade, the surfaces are original and clean. No individual abrasion marks are noteworthy. The grade is confirmed by the CAC sticker, which indicates that the piece is of premium quality and well within the grade range assigned. Of added interest are die cracks on both sides of the coin; one on the reverse is particularly prominent. It runs from the wing through the arrow tips to the edge.

The discovery of gold in the early 1800s led to the establishment of two of the Southern branch mints, Charlotte North Carolina and Dahlonega Georgia. In 1835 an act of Congress mandated that these two branch mints would coin only gold. The New Orleans Mint also opened to handle gold from Mexico. In 1838 the first Dahlonega gold coins were made, and they were the Classic Head half eagle type. Because of the local alloys high silver content, Dahlonega Gold Coins often have a green-gold cast. They are also often weakly struck on irregular planchets. Dahlonega Gold Coins are eagerly sought by collectors and investors because of their low mintages and rarity.

A building was erected in the town of Dahlonega. Power for its coining equipment came from steam produced in a boiler in the basement. Two small steam driven presses were on the first floor just above the boiler room. They could produce one coin per second. Because of the small size of the presses, the largest coins produced were half eagles.

In 1838 the first Dahlonega Gold Coins were made, and they were the Classic Head Half Eagle type. Because of the local alloys high silver content, Dahlonega Gold Coins often have a green-gold cast. They are also often weakly struck on irregular planchets. Dahlonega Gold Coins are eagerly sought by collectors and investors because of their low mintages and rarity. Modern D mint coins should not be confused with Dahlonega coins. Today a coin bearing the D mintmark was minted in Denver, which began production in 1906.

In its population report, NGC shows 18 1848-D Half Eagles in AU55 condition with 23 better. At CAC as of August 2012, there is 1, the present coin, in AU55 with 1 better.