$5 Liberty Gold Half Eagle Coin
The Half-Eagle Gold Coins were minted for the first time in 1839 and ceased production in 1908. Extremely rich in history, the Liberty Half Eagle is the only coin struck at all seven traditional branches of the U.S. Mint.
History and Design
Christian Gobrecht designed both the obverse and reverse; the Liberty Head motif was inspired by the portrait of Venus in Benjamin West's famous 1809 painting Omnia Vincit Amor (Love Conquers All).
The coin's obverse depicts Lady Liberty's classic head, with her hair secured in a bun by a string of beads and wearing a coronet with the inscription LIBERTY. Thirteen stars encircle the rim, while the date is placed below.
The reverse shows a heraldic perched eagle with a shield on its chest, holding an olive branch and arrows. The eagle imagery is surrounded by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination FIVE D. (meaning five dollars)
The $5 Liberty Head coin was minted from 1839 to 1908. The only significant design change was the addition of the motto "In God We Trust" in 1866.
The Charlotte Mint produced the $2.5 Liberty Head coin from 1839 until 1861. The Philadelphia Mint minted the coin continuously from 1839 to 1908, while the San Francisco Mint produced it from 1854 to 1906.
The Dahlonega Mint also minted the series from 1839 until 1861. Additionally, the Denver Mint (D) produced the coin briefly from 1906 to 1907, and the Carson City Mint contributed from 1870 until 1893. Lastly, the New Orleans Mint produced the $2.5 Liberty Head coin from 1840 to 1857.
Features and Variations
The series has two variations: the "no motto" and the "with motto" type.
The Civil War's residual spiritual feelings left the population wanting to express their nationality. Only with the Coinage Act of March 3, 1865, was the American slogan "IN GOD WE TRUST" ordered on U.S. gold and silver coins. It first appeared on the gold Liberty in 1866, and apart from this detail, the rest of the design remained unchanged.
The "with motto" series was continuous at San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, New Orleans, and Carson City Mints.
Collecting and Value
Grading
Coin grading services like PCGS and NGC professionally assess a coin’s condition and authenticity, potentially increasing its value and providing security for collectors. Grading is based on the Sheldon scale, ranging from 1 (poorest) to 70 (perfect Mint State). Coins graded between 60 and 70 are in Mint State and generally command higher prices.
Rarity
The most scarce coin in the "No motto" series is the 1854-S, minted during the first year of the San Francisco Mint operation.
Only 268 of these coins were produced, and today, according to PCGS, only three exemplars are known, with one missing since the 60s. Likewise, for the "with motto" variety, as the date, the most considerable rarity is the Philadelphia Mint issue of 1875: with an original number of 200 pieces, fewer than five have survived. Proof coins, in turn, were all struck in Philadelphia and are rare in all years.
Additionally, Charlotte and Dahlonega pieces are scarce.
Composition
The value of the $5 Half Eagle gold coin is also determined by its gold content. The coins are composed of .900 fine gold and .100 copper. With a total weight of 8.36 grams and a gold content of 0.2419 troy oz, the coin’s value can vary depending on the fluctuating market price of gold.
Investment
The value of gold coins is tied to the price of gold, making it an attractive investment option. Private investors looking to diversify their portfolios have long favored gold bullion due to its historical stability and high appreciation potential.