First year of the new design half eagle created by Christian Gobrecht, and relatively common in circulated grades. Gobrecht's design became a staple of American commerce, being utilized on quarter eagles from 1840 to 1907, half eagles from 1839 to 1908, and eagles from 1838 to 1907. David Akers commented that 'high grade specimens, i.e. coins grading AU or Unc., are very rare and choice Mint State pieces are virtually unobtainable.' This commentary is equally appropriate today as it was when his words were written in 1979. There are possibly six or seven examples that are in the Mint State range.