1860-C  Half Eagle PCGS AU53 - 1860-C $5 PCGS AU53. For the issue, this 1860-C Half Eagle is an outstanding piece. A poor strike is the hallmark of this coin. The reverse was struck from defective die that resulted in blurry details. The obverse has a void between Libertys chin and Stars 2 and 3. Despite these typical issues, the present coin is a bright and lively piece with mint luster remaining within its devices. Full details are present on the centers of the stars and much of Libertys hair. The coin is a mixture of yellow and greenish gold, attesting to its originality. The surfaces are clean for the grade with no individually distracting abrasion marks. Usually found no better than XF, this coin is a quality piece for the date and mint. 

When Mint Engraver William Kneass was unable to resume his duties after a debilitating stroke, Christian Gobrecht was asked to do his work, which included making a new half eagle that would be uniform with the eagle. The Liberty Head half eagle with no motto was minted from 1839 to 1866.

Gobrechts design shows a left facing profile of Liberty wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet. Her hair is tied in the back and there are two loose curls that hang down her neck. Around the head are thirteen six-pointed stars, and the date is below the truncation. At the periphery of the coin are dentils. The coin also has a reeded edge. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle similar to the one on the Classic Head half eagle except that the eagle is smaller and its neck is not bent so aggressively. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the eagle, except for its wing tips, in an arc. The denomination is below, separated with dots, and written as FIVE D.

In the 1860s the half eagle was subjected to an unusual form of counterfeiting. Genuine gold coins were sawed in half edgewise and the gold was removed from the interiors. It was replaced by platinum discs of corresponding weight. A new edge was added to hide the change. The coins rang well, and had the proper weight and color. Although many solutions were proposed, the problem resolved itself when the market price of platinum exceeded that of gold. From time to time these altered coins appear. They are valuable today for their bullion content and, for some, as interesting curiosities.

In its population report, PCGS shows 8 1860-C half eagles at the AU53 grade level.