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1859-C
| Weight | 1.672 g |
| Diameter | 15 mm |
| Mint | Charlotte |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 5,235 |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 90% Gold, 10% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-5269 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
Charlotte delivered 5,235 gold dollars in 1859, the final year of gold dollar production at the North Carolina mint. Charlotte would continue to strike quarter eagles in 1860 before closing permanently when North Carolina seceded from the Union in 1861. The 1859-C gold dollar is the last of its denomination from Charlotte, a distinction that adds terminal-year significance to an already scarce coin.
PCGS estimates roughly 50 to 75 survive across all grades. Most grade between Good and Fine, with significant wear from extended circulation. Very Fine examples are scarce, and Extremely Fine or better coins are rare. An AU58 sold for $11,163 at Heritage in January 2015. The "C" mintmark identifies the coin as Charlotte production, and the characteristic soft strike and warm gold color typical of the facility are present on most surviving examples.
For collectors assembling a complete set of Charlotte mint gold dollars, the 1859-C is the closing entry. The mint that had opened in 1838 to process North Carolina gold would produce its last gold dollar this year and its last coins of any denomination the following year. The 1859-C carries the weight of finality, representing the last gold dollar from a facility that never produced them in large numbers and whose entire output is now prized by specialists.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | — | — |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | — | — |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | — | — |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $2,085 | $2,405 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $3,290 | $3,795 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $4,520 | $5,215 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $6,970 | $8,045 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $29,370 | $31,095 |
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What is the melt value of a 1859-C Indian Princess (Large Head) Gold Dollar?
Is the 1859-C Indian Princess (Large Head) Gold Dollar a key date?
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