$5 · Gold · 1839–1908
Liberty Head Half Eagle
A five-dollar gold series struck at more United States mint facilities than any other classic gold denomination, offering a compact map of regional gold coinage.
- Designer
- Christian Gobrecht
- Classic dates
- 1839–1908
- Mint facilities
- Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City, and Denver
01 · Overview
Why the Liberty Head Half Eagle matters
The Liberty Head half eagle began in 1839 and remained in production into 1908. Its broad geographic range is central to the series: coins were produced at seven mint facilities across the eastern, southern, and western United States.
The reverse changed materially in 1866 when IN GOD WE TRUST was added. Earlier diameter and portrait adjustments also matter to type collectors, while date-and-mint specialists focus closely on branch-mint output and survival.
02 · Design
Reading the design
Obverse
Liberty faces left with a coronet, surrounded by thirteen stars and the date. On the smaller half-eagle planchet, complete hair and star detail can reveal differences in strike and preservation.
Reverse
A heraldic eagle holds arrows and an olive branch. No-motto coins leave the area above the eagle open; later coins place IN GOD WE TRUST on a ribbon above it.
03 · Specifications
Nominal issue specifications
- Denomination
- $5
- Composition
- 90% gold, 10% copper
- Nominal weight
- 8.359 g
- Actual gold weight
- 0.24187 troy oz
- Diameter
- 21.6 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
Nominal specifications describe regular classic issues. Patterns, proofs, special strikes, production tolerances, and later commemorative or modern versions may differ.
04 · Chronology
The series in stages
01
Early issues · 1839–1840
The first issues include differences in portrait size and diameter. Exact attribution matters when an early coin is being evaluated as a type rather than only by date.
02
No Motto · 1840–1866
This long period includes coins from Philadelphia and multiple branch mints, including Charlotte and Dahlonega issues tied directly to southern gold production.
03
With Motto · 1866–1908
The motto was added above the eagle. Carson City, San Francisco, and later Denver issues extend the branch-mint story into the West.
05 · Examination
What photographs should help you examine
Small coin, concentrated detail
Because the design is compact, photographs should be sharp enough to separate strike softness, friction, and surface disturbance in Liberty's hair and the eagle's central feathers.
Mint mark and date relationship
A single-letter mint mark can represent a materially different issue. The D mint mark refers to Dahlonega on earlier coins and Denver on late coins; the date resolves the facility.
Mounting and jewelry evidence
Classic half eagles were sometimes used in jewelry. Inspect rims and edge photographs for filing, solder, mount removal, or localized disturbance.
06 · Before buying
Questions the listing should answer
01
Separate metal value from numismatic value
The coin contains a known nominal amount of gold, but its market value can also reflect date, mint, variety, survival, grade, surface quality, and demand. A gold calculation is a useful reference point, not a complete valuation method.
02
Read the holder and the coin
Confirm the grading service, grade, certification number, and any documented designation, then examine the photographs independently. A third-party grade is an attributed opinion; it does not replace a review of color, luster, marks, and surface originality.
03
Treat cleaning and damage separately from wear
Circulation wear is only one part of condition. Cleaning, polishing, scratches, rim damage, mount removal, tooling, and altered surfaces can materially change how a coin is described and valued even when substantial design detail remains.
07 · Sources
Primary references
This guide is educational and intentionally type-level. Issue-specific attribution, mintage, certification, and condition should be verified for the individual coin.