Opening its doors for coinage in 1838, the Charlotte Mint delivered 17,179 half eagles that year. They proved to be the only C-mint fives delivered with William Kneass' Classic design. Although this issue is not known for particularly sharp striking detail, this Choice XF survivor holds up relatively well in that regard. The obverse portrait is suitably bold despite noticeable highpoint rub, and the star centrils are the only features on that side to display noteworthy softness of detail. On the reverse, the eagle is also notably worn across the highpoints, but much of the plumage still retains bold delineation. A noticeable diagonal die crack extends across the reverse from 2 o'clock to 7 o'clock. A bit scuffy from time spent in circulation, yet no more so than one should expect for the assigned grade. As a one-year type in the C-mint gold series, the 1838-C enjoys unflagging collector demand at all levels of preservation. (PCGS 8177)