1858-C Half Eagle - 1858-C $5 NGC XF45. This circulated 1858-C Half Eagle from the Charlotte Mint shows traces of mint luster remaining in protected areas. Areas of weakness are seen on both sides; however, about half of the obverse stars show details in their centers. This 1858-C Half Eagle is graded XF45 because all the details of Libertys hair down her neck and the lower part of the coronet show. The surfaces of this 1858-C Half Eagle are original and clean for the grade with no notable individual distractions.

Christian Gobrecht designed the Liberty Head or Coronet half eagle. The coin shows Liberty facing left in profile wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet with her hair tied in the back with beads. Two long curls hang down her neck, one in the back and the other on the side. She is surrounded with thirteen six-pointed stars. The date is below the truncation, which shows no drapery. The motif is taken from a Benjamin West painting of Venus. It was also used with modifications for the Large Cents of 1839.

The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with outstretched wing looking to the left. On its chest is the Union shield. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows. Except for the tips of the eagles wings UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the reverse, separated from the denomination FIVE D. by dots. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the coin, and the edge is reeded. Type 2 was created when the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to a banner designed by James B. Longacre above the eagle in 1866. The change was made in response to pressure organized by the Reverend M.R. Watkinson.

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. Only a tiny fraction of the C mint coinage survives today. One example is the Open Wreath Gold Dollar of 1849-C. This issue is so rare that it was one of the few missing in the Louis Eliasberg gold collection.

Charlotte gold is highly sought after by collectors and investors as well as those interested in collections with a Civil War connection.