1853-C Half Eagle - 1853-C $5 NGC AU53. This Southern branch mint 1853-C Half Eagle has muted mint luster within its devices and a strong obverse strike for a Southern branch coin. Full details are on the centers of the stars and Libertys hair above her ear. Just a bit of wear is on the highest points of the coin keeps it from a Mint State grade. The surfaces are original and clean for the grade with no individually notable abrasion marks.

The Charlotte Mint opened in 1836. Two years later the first half eagle was struck. Quarter eagles were minted later in 1838 and gold dollars in 1849. However, no coins were made in 1845 because there was a fire, and the entire structure burned to the ground. Its last coinage was in 1861, twenty-four years after it opened. During the Civil War, the Charlotte Mint continued coining gold; however, in October of 1861 the building was converted to a Confederate army hospital and headquarters. During Reconstruction, the building was used for offices by federal troops. In 1867 the Mint became an assay office, which remained in operation until 1913. During World War I it was used by the Charlottes Womans Club and as a Red Cross station. In 1936 the site was relocated south of downtown and became the Mint Museum of Art, which was the first art museum in North Carolina.

All Charlotte Mint coins have the C mintmark on the reverse except for the first two years quarter and half eagles, which had them on the obverse between the truncation and the date.

All Charlotte gold coins are scarce. Much of it is rare, and some is extremely rare because of a combination of low mintages and melting overseas. Many coins that were minted before the Civil War were used to purchase armaments abroad. Much of this coinage was melted in Europe to make coins of the realm. Charlotte gold is highly sought after by collectors and investors as well as those interested in collections with a Civil War connection.