1837 $5

1838-C $5

1838 $5 (Regular Strike)

Series: Classic Head $5 1834-1838

PCGS MS66

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PCGS MS65+

PCGS MS65

PCGS #:: 8176

Designer:: William Kneass

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 22.50 millimeters

Weight:: 8.36 grams

Mintage:: 286,588

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $253,000 • MS66 • 01-01-2008 • Heritage Auctions

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (4)

Major Varieties

1838 $5

Die Varieties

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	700	R-5.6	5 / 8	5 / 8
60 or Better	90	R-8.1	5 / 8 TIE	5 / 8 TIE
65 or Better	8	R-9.6	4 / 8 TIE	4 / 8 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	700
60 or Better	90
65 or Better	8

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-5.6
60 or Better	R-8.1
65 or Better	R-9.6

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	5 / 8
60 or Better	5 / 8 TIE
65 or Better	4 / 8 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	5 / 8
60 or Better	5 / 8 TIE
65 or Better	4 / 8 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS68 PCGS grade	National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution
2	MS66 PCGS grade	Gold Rush Collection - Heritage 1/2005:30048, $126,500 - Madison Collection - Heritage 1/2008:3159, $253,000 - Larry Hanks - D. Brent Pogue Collection
3	MS65+ PCGS grade	Lorin G. Parmelee Collection - New York Coin & Stamp - H.P. Smith & David Proskey 6/1890:1083 - Byron Reed Collection - Spink America 10/1996:126, $121,000 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 10/1999:865, $115,000 - D. Brent Pogue Collection This example is fully prooflike and has been called both a Proof (by Akers and Breen) and a Specimen (by NGC) in the past.
4	MS65 PCGS grade	Phinehas Adams Collection - William J. Jenks Collection - John Haseltine 6/1883:375 - George Massamore - T. Harrison Garrett Collection - Robert Garrett Collection - John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection - Stack’s 3/1976:371 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 10/1999:863, $35,650 - Andrew Nugget, sold privately in 4/2002 - D. Brent Pogue Collection
4	MS65 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade

#1 MS68 PCGS grade

National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

Gold Rush Collection - Heritage 1/2005:30048, $126,500 - Madison Collection - Heritage 1/2008:3159, $253,000 - Larry Hanks - D. Brent Pogue Collection

#3 MS65+ PCGS grade

Lorin G. Parmelee Collection - New York Coin & Stamp - H.P. Smith & David Proskey 6/1890:1083 - Byron Reed Collection - Spink America 10/1996:126, $121,000 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 10/1999:865, $115,000 - D. Brent Pogue Collection

This example is fully prooflike and has been called both a Proof (by Akers and Breen) and a Specimen (by NGC) in the past.

#4 MS65 PCGS grade

Phinehas Adams Collection - William J. Jenks Collection - John Haseltine 6/1883:375 - George Massamore - T. Harrison Garrett Collection - Robert Garrett Collection - John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection - Stack’s 3/1976:371 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 10/1999:863, $35,650 - Andrew Nugget, sold privately in 4/2002 - D. Brent Pogue Collection

#4 MS65 PCGS grade

#5 MS64 PCGS grade

Ron Guth:

The 1838 Half Eagle is a fairly common coin as far as Classic Head Half Eagles go. It is not as common as the higher-mintage 1834 Plain 4 and the 1836, but it is far less rare than the lower-mintage 1834 Crosslet 4, 1838-C, and 1838-D. Akers wrote that truly choice Uncirculated examples are rare, but the PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census includes ten examples that are at least MS64 or better. The finest example is a phenomenal MS68 (estimated grade) example in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, followed by a single PCGS MS66, then a PCGS MS65+ that is fully prooflike (and has actually been called a Proof in the past by both Walter Breen and David Akers). Akers was correct in noting that this date comes well struck.

David Akers (1975/88): As a date, the 1838 is more rare than the 1834 Plain 4, 1835, or 1836 but not quite as scarce, particularly in choice condition, as the 1837. Most specimens I have seen have been quite well struck. Average uncirculated examples are seen from time to time but truly choice uncirculated pieces are very rare.