1859-D $5 (1859-D Half Ealge) Medium D, NGC MS60. Bright mint luster radiates from this mint state Southern branch mint 1859-D Half Ealge. Light abrasion is seen on both sides of the coin, and there is a small scratch on Libertys cheek, in keeping with the grade. The strike is above average in that this coins centers show more detail than usual for this date and branch.

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the coins obverse shows the head of Liberty facing left wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. There are thirteen stars around the head near the border. The date, 1852, is beneath the bust. The reverse features an eagle with outstretched wings and a shield on its breast. In its left talon are three arrows and in its right is an olive branch. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is near the border, and the denomination FIVE D. is below the eagle. The D mintmark is centered between the juncture of the olive branch and arrows and the E of FIVE.

On April 21, 1838 the Dahlonega Mint produced its first coinage, 80 half eagles. In that year 20,583 half eagles were minted in Dahlonega. The first quarter eagle was made the next year in February. 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.

The mint worked as a refinery for gold deposits. People would bring in dust, nuggets, bars, and foreign coins. They would then be refined to establish their value. Silver that naturally occurred in the Georgia gold was not removed from the oar because the gold was more pure than the standard 90% fine. After the gold was coined, it could be picked up by the depositor.

Most of the gold deposited at Dahlonega took place in the 1840s. The discovery of gold in California brought in deposits of new gold; however, in 1854 the San Francisco Mint opened, and the California gold that had been deposited in Georgia diminished. In January of 1861, Georgia seceded from the Union. Coins produced later in that year were made for the Confederacy. Since the same dies were used when the Mint was in Federal control, the coinage produced cannot be distinguished today. After the mint closed in June, it became a Confederate assay office for the rest of the Civil War.

All Dahlonega gold coins bear the D mintmark. Denominations made by the Dahlonega Mint were gold dollars (1849-1861), a three dollar gold coin (1854), quarter eagles (1839-1859 except for 1858), and half eagles (1838-1861). 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.

The 1859-D half eagle had an original mintage of only 10,366. In its population report, NGC shows 1 certified in MS60 with 11 better.