Only 22,432 half eagles left the Dahlonega Mint in 1855, and this survivor carries the scarcer Medium D mintmark. The little Georgia branch mint turned regional placer gold into coinage, and it shut its doors for good in 1861. Southern commerce used these $5 pieces hard, so most were worn flat, lost, or melted long ago. Dahlonega gold has been collected by mintmark and variety ever since, and the 1855-D is one of the harder dates to locate with honest, original surfaces.

The obverse shows Liberty facing left in a beaded coronet lettered LIBERTY, with thirteen stars ringing the portrait and the date below the truncation. Christian Gobrecht's portrait keeps clear facial outlines and a readable coronet at this level of wear. On the reverse, a heraldic eagle holds an olive branch and three arrows while a striped shield covers its breast, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and FIVE D. below. The medium-size D mintmark sits beneath the eagle and stands out plainly, which matters on a branch-mint issue collected by variety.

PCGS graded this half eagle F-15, a solid circulated grade with even wear across the high points and no distracting marks. The surfaces carry a warm orange-gold color with natural coppery toning in the fields, and the rims and dentils remain complete around both sides. Dahlonega half eagles in this grade range are the ones most collectors can actually buy, since higher grades turn up rarely and command sharp premiums. The attribution of the Medium D variety on the PCGS label adds another layer for specialists working the Dahlonega series. A welcome addition to any collection of Southern branch mint gold.

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