1846 SMALL DATE LIBERTY HEAD GOLD HALF EAGLE, NGC AU55, RARE

Description

1846 Small Date Liberty Head Gold Half Eagle
NGC graded AU55
NGC/PCGS graded population 157, including resubmissions. (PCGS suggests the estimated survival in all grades to be 50)
Mintage (large and small date combined) 395,942
Gordon Wrubel's write-up on PCGS's website suggests the Small Date variety is 9 times rarer than the Large Date. (Looking at current auction numbers a 4:1 ratio is a better estimate). Mr. Wrubel's description also notes the existence of "two snowman-like BALLS that extend up from the right stand of the 4." Also of note are other oddities on the 1, 8, and 4 in the date. The upright of the 1 necks down just below the upper serif. Likewise the crossbar of the 4 is necked down on either side of the upright and the crossbar is offset upward on the right side of the upright and offset downward on the left side of the upright. The 8 is "clipped" on both sides of the upper loop and clipped on the right side of the lower loop. There is also a small "spike" extending out from the intersection of the two loops to the right. These can be easily seen on PCGS s/n 33289684. (My opinion is that the date was re-punched and this description is typical of all the small date coins I've seen.) Also of note is the vertical die file mark at the eye of Lady Liberty, again typical of all Small Date 1846 half eagles.
David Akers', in his Auction Analysis, states that "Both Small Date and Large Date varieties exist, the Small Date being the rarer of the two."
Walter Breen in his "Complete Encyclopedia" lists the 1846 Small Date Half Eagle (6562) as "Rare"
Garrett and Guth's "Encyclopedia" states, "There are two major varieties known for this date: the Large Date and the Small Date. The Small Date is the rarer of the two."
The coin listed here, I believe, is a late die state coin as it has a die crack on the reverse running from the rim along the tops of AMER.
Will ship via USPS Priority Mail Express, signature required.