LIBERTY HEAD (NO
MOTTO ON REVERSE) FIVE DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE (1839-1866)
Gobrecht’s
LIBERTY HEAD (NO MOTTO ON REVERSE) FIVE DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE:
When Mint Engraver William Kneass was unable to resume
his duties after a debilitating stroke, Christian Gobrecht
was asked to do his work, which included making a new half
eagle that would be uniform with the eagle. The Liberty Head
(No Motto on Reverse) half eagle was minted from 1839 to 1866.
Gobrecht’s design for the Liberty
Head (No Motto on Reverse) half eagle shows a left facing
profile of Liberty wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet.
Her hair is tied in the back and there are two loose curls
that hang down her neck. Around the head are thirteen six-pointed
stars, and the date is below the truncation. At the periphery
of the coin are dentils. The Liberty Head (No Motto on Reverse)
half eagle coin also has a reeded edge. The reverse of the
Liberty Head (No Motto on Reverse) half eagle coin shows
a heraldic eagle similar to the one on the Classic Head
eagle. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds
the eagle, except for its wing tips, in an arc. The denomination
is below, separated with dots, and written as FIVE D.
In the 1860’s the Liberty Head (No
Motto on Reverse) half eagle was subjected to an unusual
form of counterfeiting. Genuine gold coins were sawed in
half edgewise and the gold was removed from the interiors.
It was replaced by platinum discs of corresponding weight.
A new edge was added to hide the change. The coins rang
well, and had the proper weight and color. Although many
solutions were proposed, the problem resolved itself when
the market price of platinum exceeded that of gold. From
time to time these altered coins appear. They are valuable
today for their bullion content and, for some, as interesting
curiosities.
The new variety of the half eagle was supposed
to be minted in 1866 adding the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. However,
9,000 1866-S Liberty Head (No Motto on Reverse) half eagle
coins were struck. Later in the year 34,920 1866-S Liberty
Head (Motto on Reverse) half eagle coins were minted in
San Francisco. Evidently the new dies were shipped to the
mint in California, but they did not arrive before the old
dies were used to make the No Motto coins.
Mintages of the Liberty Head (No Motto
on Reverse) half eagle range from a high of 688,084 in 1861
to a tiny mintage of 268. In 1854, there was a shortage
of acids needed to separate the silver from gold at the
San Francisco Mint; consequently, the output was severely
limited. The 1854-S half eagle is so rare that NGC has certified
only one coin and PCGS has none. Because of the rarity of
this coin, it is virtually impossible to complete a full
date and mint set of Liberty Head (No Motto on Reverse)
half eagle coins. The next lowest mintage is the 1865 with
a mintage of 1,270. Both grading services show 48 coins
certified for 1865, which does not account for resubmissions
and crossovers.
1842
Half Eagle
Found with Small and Large letters on the reverse. Small
Letters are scarce. Only 12 certified in Mint State. Finest
are 2 MS66s. Only 1 proof has been certified in PF64.
It is a Small Letters variety.
1842-C
Half Eagle
Found with Small and Large Dates. The Small Date is rarer
with less than 100 known. Only 7 Small Dates are certified
in Mint State. The finest is a single MS63+. 17 Large
Dates are certified in Mint State. The finest is a single
MS65.
1842-D
Half Eagle
Found with Small and Large Dates. The Large Date is rarer
with less than 100 known. Only 2 have been certified in
Mint State both MS61. 16 Small Dates are certified in
Mint State. The finest are 8 in MS62.
1842-O
Half Eagle
Usually found XF to AU. Less than 100 are known. Only
3 have been certified in Mint State. The finest is a single
MS63.
1843
Half Eagle
This is the second most common date in the 1840s. Rare
above MS63. The finest is a single MS65. Approximately
4 proofs are known. The finest is a PFUC66.
1843-C
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF grades. 26 have been certified
Mint State. The finest are 4 in MS64. Also seen with a
very rare Large Diameter.
1843-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF grades. 30 have been certified
in Mint State. The finest is a single MS64. Also seen
with a very rare Small D.
1843-O
Half Eagle
Found with Small and Large Letters. The Small Letters
is rarer. Only 8 Small Letters have been certified in
Mint State. The finest are 2 MS65s.
1844
Half Eagle
Somewhat scarce. Rare above MS63. The finest is a single
MS65. Only 1 proof has been certified for this date, a
PFCA64.
1844-C
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition. 14 have been certified
in Mint State. The finest are 4 MS63s.
1844-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to AU condition. 33 have been certified
in Mint State. The finest are 2 MS64s.
1844-O
Half Eagle
Second highest New Orleans mintage. Usually found in XF
to AU condition. Rare above MS63. Finest is a single MS65.
1845
Half Eagle
Can be found in most grades; however, none have been certified
above MS64. Only 5 proofs have been certified, the finest
is a PFUC66.
1845-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to AU condition. Rare above MS61.
Finest is a single MS65.
1845-O
Half Eagle
Rare in Mint State with only 21 certified. Finest are
4 in MS63.
1846
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition. Comes with Small
or Large Dates. Small Date is rarer. Rare above MS62.
Finest are 7 MS64s. Only 1 proof has been certified; it
is a PFCA64.
1846-C
Half Eagle
Rare in all grades. Only 13 certified in Mint State. The
finest is a single MS65.
1846-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition. One reverse variety
has an obvious D/D mintmark. The normal mintmark variety
is rarer with only 9 certified in Mint State. The finest
are 2 in MS62. The D/D has 21 certified in Mint State.
The finest is a single MS65.
1846-O
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition. Rare in all Mint
State grades with only 13 certified by both services.
The finest is a single MS63.
1847
Half Eagle
Most common date of the type. Also seen with 2 overdates,
18/18 and 1847/7. Rare above MS64. Finest known are 2
in MS66. Only 1 proof is known, and it is in the Smithsonian.
1847-C
Half Eagle
Highest Charlotte Mint mintage. Usually found in VF to
XF condition. 30 have been certified in Mint State. The
finest is a single MS65.
1847-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition. 28 have been certified
in Mint State. The finest are 5 in MS63.
1847-O
Half Eagle
Only about 55 are known in all grades; it is the rarest
from the New Orleans Mint. Only 1 in Mint State in MS61.
1848
Half Eagle
Rare in higher Mint State grades. 5 certified in MS64.
Finest is a single MS65. Pieces found in shipwrecks S.S.
Brother Jonathan and S.S. Central America. Only 2 proofs
are known. One is in the Smithsonian and the other is
certified PRCA63.
1848-C
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition. Only 11 certified
in Mint State. The finest are 2 MS64s.
1848-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in low grades. Only 13 certified in Mint
State. The finest are 3 MS63s. One reverse variety has
a D/D mintmark, which is very rare.
1849
Half Eagle
Rare above MS61. The finest is a single MS63. Also seen
with an overdate, 1849/49. Only 28 of these have been
certified in all grades. The finest is a single MS64.
No proofs are known.
1849-C
Half Eagle
Usually found well struck for a Charlotte Mint issue.
Rare above MS61. The finest is a single MS66.
1849-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition. Rare in Mint State
with only 14 certified. The finest is a single MS63.
1850
Half Eagle
Usually found in low grades. Rare in Mint State with only
14 certified. The finest are 2 in MS65. No proofs are
known.
1850-C
Half Eagle
A fairly common date for the Charlotte Mint. Usually found
in VF to XF condition. 36 have been graded in Mint State
condition. The finest are 8 in MS64.
1850-D
Half Eagle
Rare in all grades. Only 6 have been graded in Mint State
of which 5 are the finest at MS61.
1851
Half Eagle
Usually found in XF to AU condition. Rare above MS63.
The finest are 2 in MS65. No proofs are known.
1851-C
Half Eagle
Usually seen in low grades with only 17 certified in Mint
State. The finest are 2 in MS64.
1851-D
Half Eagle
Usually in low grades. Rare above XF with only 15 certified
in Mint State. The finest are 2 in MS63.
1851-O
Half Eagle
Usually found in circulated grades; only 8 certified in
Mint State. The finest is a single MS64
1852
Half Eagle
Rare above MS63. The finest are 2 certified in MS66. No
proofs are known.
1852-C
Half Eagle
Usually weakly struck in centers. Often seen in VF to
AU grades. Rare above MS62. The finest is a single MS65.
1852-D
Half Eagle
Most found in XF to AU grades. Rare above MS61. The finest
certified are 5 in MS63.
1853
Half Eagle
Available in grades up to MS62. Only 19 pieces certified
above MS62 by both services. The finest is a single MS66.
No proofs are known.
1853-C
Half Eagle
Usually available in XF to AU grades. Rare in Mint State.
The finest certified are 4 in MS64.
1853-D
Half Eagle
Usually boldly struck with weakness in various spots.
Rare above MS61. The finest certified are 4 in MS64.
1854
Half Eagle
Usually found in XF to AU condition. Rare in grades above
MS62. The large number certified in MS64, 54, is no doubt
a result of resubmission to achieve a Gem grade. So far
none have been successful. A doubled die obverse shows
doubling on Liberty’s ear and is sometimes called
the “Earring Variety.” No proofs are known,
but 1 may exist as part of a set given to the city of
Bremen, Germany in 1854.
1854-C
Half Eagle
Usually found in circulated condition below XF; rare in
Mint State grades. The finest certified is a single MS64.
Found with strong and weak mintmarks.
1854-D
Half Eagle
Rare in grades above MS62. The finest certified is a single
MS67. Found with strong and weak mintmarks.
1854-O
Half Eagle
Exceedingly rare in Mint State. Only 20 have been certified
in all MS grades, the finest are 4 in MS63.
1854-S
Half Eagle
An extreme rarity! Only 3 are known to exist. There is
only 1 certified, and it is an AU58 by NGC. This coin
is included in 100 Greatest U.S. Coins by Garrett and
Guth.
1855
Half Eagle
Common date in lower circulated grades. Rare in Mint State.
11 have been certified in MS64 with none higher. No proofs
are known.
1855-C
Half Eagle
Usually with some strike weakness. Scarce in XF to AU
condition. Rare in Mint State. The finest certified is
a single MS65.
1855-D
Half Eagle
Always softly struck in the center of the obverse and
on the eagle’s neck. Usually found in XF to AU condition.
Only 8 have been certified Mint State by both services.
The finest certified is a single MS64. Found with Large
and Medium D’s. The Medium D is rarer.
1855-O
Half Eagle
Very rare in all grades. Exceedingly rare in Mint State
with 7 certified by both services, the finest of which
are 5 in MS61.
1855-S
Half Eagle
Very rare in all grades. Prohibitively rare in Mint State
with just 4 certified, the finest of which is a single
MS62.
1856
Half Eagle
Usually found in circulated condition struck with soft
centers; rare above MS62. The finest certified are 4 in
MS65. No proofs are known.
1856-D
Half Eagle
Often seen struck with soft centers; rare above MS62 with
the finest certified a single MS65.
1856-O
Half Eagle
Low mintage; rare in all grades with only 7 certified
in Mint State. The finest certified is a single MS62.
1856-S
Half Eagle
Rare in Mint State with only 12 certified by both services.
The highest certified is a single MS64.
1857
Half Eagle
Scarce in all grades; rare above MS63. The highest certified
are 5 in MS64. Only 2 proofs are known, 1 of which is
certified PFUC65.
1857-C
Half Eagle
Usually found in XF to AU condition. Rare in Mint State
above MS61. The highest certified is a single MS65.
1857-D
Half Eagle
Often softly struck in centers. Usually found in VF
to XF condition. The highest certified are 4 in MS63.
1857-O
Half Eagle
This is the last No Motto date from New Orleans. Usually
found in circulated condition. Very rare in Mint State
with only 6 coins certified in Mint State, the finest
of which is a single MS63.
1857-S
Half Eagle
Usually found in circulated condition. Only 16 certified
in Mint State, the finest of which are 3 MS64s. Several
examples found on the S.S. Central America.
1858
Half Eagle
Usually well struck but most often found in circulated
condition. Rare in Mint State with the finest certified
a single MS66. Only 5 proofs have been certified, the
finest a single PFUC67.
1858-C
Half Eagle
Usually found in XF to AU condition. Scarce in Mint State.
The finest certified is a single MS64.
1858-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in XF to AU condition. Rare in Mint State
with 19 certified in Mint State by both services. The
finest is a single MS65.
1858-S
Half Eagle
Fewer than 100 are known to exist in all grades. Only
1, an MS61 has been certified in Mint State.
1859
Half Eagle
Usually found in XF to AU condition. Rare in Mint State
with 7 certified in Mint State by both services, 6 of
which are the finest in MS62. Approximately 9 proofs are
known with 7 certified. The finest is a single PFUC66.
1859-C
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition. Rare in Mint State
with 19 certified in Mint State by both services. The
finest is a single MS66.
1859-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in VF to XF condition with soft strikes
in the centers. Rare in Mint State. The finest is a single
MS65.
1859-S
Half Eagle
Fewer than 100 are known to exist in all grades. They
are often well struck but heavily circulated. The finest
certified are 3 in MS63.
1860
Half Eagle
Scarce in all dates; rare in Mint State with only 9 graded
by both services, the highest of which is a single MS65.
Approximately 11 proofs are known. Only 6 have been certified.
The finest is a single PFCA66.
1860-C
Half Eagle
Usually found in circulated condition and with poorly
struck reverse. Rare in MS grades above MS61; the finest
certified are two MS64s.
1860-D
Half Eagle
Usually found in XF to AU condition, often with weak centers.
Rare in grades above MS61; the finest certified are 3
MS64s. There are Medium and Large D’s. The Large
D is rarer.
1860-S
Half Eagle
Fewer than 100 are known to exist in all grades. Only
2 have been certified in Mint State, an MS61 and an MS62.
1861
Half Eagle
This is the most common date of the type, but it is always
in demand because of its Civil War date. Rare above MS64;
the finest certified are 3 in MS66. Approximately 9 proofs
are known. Only 3 have been certified, the finest is a
single PFCA66.
1861-C
Half Eagle
Low mintage date including CSA output.. Very rare in Mint
State with only 9 certified, the finest of which are 2
in MS63.
1861-D
Half Eagle
Only 80 to 85 are known to exist in all grades. Usually
seen in circulated XF grades. Very rare in Mint State
with only 11 certified in all grades, the finest of which
is a single MS64 example.
1861-S
Half Eagle
Fewer than 100 are known to exist in all grades with none
certified in Mint State. The finest certified are 7 AU58
examples.
1862
Half Eagle
Fewer than 100 are known to exist in all grades with only
2 certified in Mint State. Both examples are MS62s. Approximately
13 proofs are known, of which 12 have been certified.
The finest is a PFUC66.
1862-S
Half Eagle
Fewer than 100 are known to exist in all grades with only
3 certified in Mint State, 2 at the MS61 level and 1 in
MS62.
1863
Half Eagle
Extremely rare. Approximately 35 are known in all grades
with 2 certified in Mint State, an MS60 and an MS61. Approximately
13 proofs are known. Only 9 have been certified. The finest
is a PFUC66.
1863-S
Half Eagle
Approximately 65 are known in all grades with 1 certified
in Mint State, an MS61.
1864
Half Eagle
Approximately 65 are known in all grades with 6 certified
in Mint State, 5 of which are MS61s. Approximately 20
proofs are known. Only 31 have been certified. The finest
is a single PFUC68.
1864-S
Half Eagle
Usually seen in VF or lower. Approximately 25 are known
in all grades with only 1 Mint State example, an MS65.
1865
Half Eagle
Approximately 35 are known in all grades with 5 certified
in Mint State, the finest of which are 3 in MS61. Approximately
18 proofs are known with 24 certified. The finest is a
single PFCA67.
1865-S
Half Eagle
Fewer than 100 are known to exist in all grades with 6
certified in Mint State, the finest of which is a single
MS64 example.
1866-S
Half Eagle
Fewer than 100 are known to exist in all grades with 0
certified in Mint State. The finest certified are 7 in
AU58.
 FIVE DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE (1839-1866).jpg)
