1866   Half Eagle   NGCAU55

The year 1866 saw production of both "No Motto" and "With Motto" issues, "No Motto" examples being Type I and those bearing the inscription on the reverse "In God We Trust" being of the Type II design. With regards to the issues struck at San Francisco, the 1866-S Type I No Motto is more rare. This does not suggest that the With Motto issue is by any means readily available and to this day, nearly 140 years after first being produced, any mint state 1866 "With Motto" double eagle is Condition Census and seriously rare.

The present coin is a very appealing AU55 example that has the luster and strike quality of AU58. Some very light marks, many small patches of light hairlines, in the fields are the only technical qualities keeping this piece from the AU58 grade but it is close. The star detail is supberb for a this issue from San Francisco as is the feather detail of the eagle. A very important type coin for all collectors, not to mention obviously any serious gold collector. Quite rare to find such an appealing example. A very important type coin for all collectors, not to mention obviously any serious gold collector. Quite rare to find such an appealing example.

Price = $ $9,250