1848-C $5 Liberty Head PCGS XF45
We all love branch mint gold, and it's getting tougher and tougher to locate as the years go by. With a mintage of 64,472 this early Charlotte issue is relatively available and affordable. Examples in uncirculated are almost unheard of for this issue and most coins of this date and mintmark fall into the VF and XF range.
An appealing yellow-gold color and strong design elements for this early Half Eagle set the tone for those searching for an example of the type. This coin has substantial and distractions are minimal. The natural yellow gold color is palatable, but we note that this example did not pass muster at CAC. It's probably a tad bright for John's taste, but it's not mutilated like many others, and it's priced accordingly.