1843-D Half Eagle (1843-D $5) Medium D, PCGS AU55. This buttery 1843-D half eagle retains much of its original mint luster in the devices of both sides. A few minor contact marks are seen on both sides that are too insignificant to describe individually. There is light, even wear on the highest points of the coin, in keeping with the AU55 grade. The strike, which is average on the obverse, is sharp and clear on the reverse. Gold was first discovered on Cherokee Indian land in 1828. Miners flocked first to Auraria, the first frontier town, then to Dahlonega, which was close to it.

At the height of the gold rush there were as many as 1500 miners in and near Dahlonega. In Cherokee the word dahlonega means yellow money. At that time private coiners, Templeton Reid, the Bechtlers, and others were 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. The period of time that the two mints were in operation was Americas first gold rush.

All Charlotte and Dahlonega gold is rare in any condition and eagerly sought by collectors. The PCGS population report show that a total of 189 coins have been certified in all grades.