1856-D Half Eagle (1856-D $5) PCGS XF45. Some mint luster still shows within the devices of this branch mint 1856-D Half Eagle. The coin shows slight abrasion on the obverse and somewhat more on the reverse. There is even wear on the high points of the design, in keeping with the grade. The strike is average for the date. In 1828 gold was first discovered on Cherokee Indian land in Georgia. Miners went to Dahlonega, which was near the gold strike.

At the height of the gold rush there were as many as 1500 miners in and near Dahlonega. Private coiners, Templeton Reid, the Bechtlers, and others had begun coining gold. However, this privately minted coinage was not made to a uniform standard. In order to remedy this situation, in 1835 Congress established the branch mints in Charlotte, North Carolina and Dahlonega, Georgia. These mints produced their first coins in 1838.

All Charlotte and Dahlonega gold is rare in any condition and eagerly sought by collectors. The 1856-D had an original mintage of 19,768. In its population report PGCS shows a total population for this date of 104 in all grades.