LIBERTY HEAD HALF
EAGLES (MOTTO ON REVERSE) - (1866-1908)
Gobrecht’s LIBERTY HEAD (MOTTO
ON REVERSE) FIVE DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE:
The Liberty Head Motto on Reverse or With Motto half eagle
was minted from 1866 to 1908. It was designed by Christian
Gobrecht and shows Liberty wearing a coronet as she faced
left in profile. Her hair is tied in the back with beads
while two loose curls flow down her neck. She is surrounded
by thirteen six-pointed stars with the date below. Dentils
are near the edge of both sides of the coin. The shows the
heraldic eagle with its head turned to the left. In its
talons it holds an olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace
and preparedness. Above its head on a banner, the motto
IN GOD WE TRUST was added. The denomination is below. In
addition to dentils, the coin has a reeded edge.
In March, 1865, a coinage act was passed
that required that the motto be added to all coins large
enough to accommodate it. The Mint interpreted this to mean
for gold coinage the half eagle, the eagle, and the double
eagle. The Liberty Head With Motto half eagle was created
as a result of this mandate. (All silver coins larger than
a dime also had the motto added.)
A prototype in proof only was struck in
1865. Only two are known. In 1866 dies were shipped to San
Francisco for the new reverse to be struck; however, evidently
they did not arrive on time and 9,000 1866 No Motto coins
were struck. Later in the year 34,920 Liberty Head With
Motto coins were made bearing the S mintmark.
According to the records of the United States
Treasury Department, the first request for the recognition
of God on coinage was made in a letter from the Reverend
Mark Richards Watkinson of Ridlelyville, Pennsylvania on
November 13, 1861 to Salmon P. Chase, Treasury Secretary.
“You are about to submit your annual report to Congress
respecting the affairs of the national finances,”
Watkinson said in the letter. “One fact touching our
currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean
the recognition of the Almighty God in some form in our
coins.” This letter set off a series of events that
caused an 1864 law to be passed allowing the “In God
We Trust” motto to be placed on coins and the 1865
law that mandated it. Mintages of the Liberty Head With
Motto half eagle range from an extremely low 200 in 1875
to 5,708,802 in 1881. The 1875 coin is extremely rare. Both
major grading services have certified only 12 in all grades
and that does not account for resubmissions and crossovers.
Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Low mintage usually
seen in VF or XF grades. Only 9 have been certified
in Mint State, the highest of which is a single MS63
piece. Approximately 16 to 19 proofs are known.
Fewer
than 100 are known to exist of this low mintage issue.
Only 4 have been certified in Mint State, the highest
of which is an MSPL61. Approximately 16 to 19 proofs
are known.
Fewer
than 100 are known to exist. Low mintage usually seen
in VF or XF. Only 3 have been certified in Mint State,
the highest are 2 in MS62. Approximately 14 to 15 proofs
are known.
Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Extremely low mintage
usually seen in XF to AU. Only 5 have been graded in
Mint State the highest of which are 2 in MSPL64. Approximately
16 to 19 proofs are known.
Fewer than 100 are known to exist, usually found in
XF condition. Only 2 have been graded in Mint State;
both are MS61s. Approximately 11 to 14 proofs are known.
First year of issue from CC Mint. Approximately 80 to
85 are known in all grades. Only 3 have been certified
in Mint State the finest of which is a single MS62 example.
Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Extremely low mintage,
usually seen in VF to XF grades. Only 7 have been certified
in Mint State, and 5 of them are in MS61 condition.
Approximately 11 proofs are known.
Extremely low mintage. About 55 to 60 are known in all
grades. Only 55 have been certified in all grades by
both services. There are 9 certified in Mint State,
the finest of which are 4 in MS64. Approximately 15
to 17 proofs are known.
Found with Open and Close 3 in the date. The Close 3
is slightly rarer. Both varieties are available in low
uncirculated grades. The finest certified Open 3 are
3 in MS65. The finest certified Close 3 are 3 in MS66.
Approximately 15 to 17 proofs are known.
Most are found in XF to AU condition with good strikes
and prooflike surfaces. Only 9 have been certified in
Mint State with the finest being a single MS64. Approximately
11 proofs are known.
Tiny
mintage; fewer than 10 are known in all grades. Included
in the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. Only 12 have been certified
with none in Mint State. The highest certified are 3
in AU55. Approximately 13 proofs are known.
Extremely low mintage coin. Approximately 45 are known
to exist in all grades. Several high grades saved as
souvenirs of the centennial. 13 have been certified
in Mint State. The finest are 2 in MS65. Approximately
26 to 29 proofs are known.
Second
lowest mintage of series. Very rare in all conditions
with fewer than 100 known to exist. The finest is a
single MSPL66. Approximately 13 proofs are known.
Highest
mintage of the series. Common in Mint State grades up
to MS65. The finest certified is a single MS67. Look
for the 1881/0 overdate of which more than 200 have
been certified. Approximately 21 to 24 proofs are known.
Most
examples are found in lower grades. Most certified are
from AU55 to MS62. The finest certified is a single
example in MS66. Approximately 26 to 29 proofs are known.
Most
are found in circulated condition with heavy surface
abrasions. Most certified are from XF45 to AU58. The
finest certified is a single example in MS62.
Low
mintage; rare in all grades especially above MS62. Most
examples are heavily circulated and show abrasions and
bag marks. The finest certified is a single MS67 example.
Approximately 26 to 29 proofs are known.
Very
low mintage; rare in all grades. Most found are in grades
AU50 to AU58. The finest certified is a single MS68
example. Approximately 36 to 49 proofs are known.
This
is the most common CC date of the series. Many examples
show heavy abrasions and bag marks. Available in AU
to MS64 grades. The finest certified are 9 in MS65.
Low
mintage date that was extensively circulated. Only 83
pieces have been certified in all grades by both services.
The finest certified is a single MS64 example.
Scarce
in all grades. Most are heavily circulated. Rare in
all Mint State grades. The finest certified is a single
MS69 example that had been obtained directly from the
Mint and became part of the Eliasberg collection.
Scarce
in most conditions, but available in grades up to MS62.
The finest certified is a single MS69 example that was
part of the Eliasberg collection.
Scarce
above MS64. The finest certified are 2 in MS68. These
probably are a single coin resubmitted that was purchased
directly from the Mint and became part of the Eliasberg
collection.
Common
date which is available up to MS66. The finest certified
is a single MS68 example. There is also an 1899/99 overdate
variety. Approximately 61 to 74 proofs are known.
Available
up to MS64. Rare in gem and above condition. The finest
certified is a single MS69 example that was purchased
directly from the Mint and became part of the Eliasberg
collection.
Common
date that is popular as first year of the new century.
Rare above MS65. The finest certified are 2 examples
in MS68, which may represent a single con that was resubmitted.
Most common proof of the series. Approximately 76 to
99 are known.
Scarce
in all grades. Rare above MS64. The finest certified
are 2 examples in MS68, which may represent a single
con that was resubmitted. It was purchased directly
from the Mint and became part of the Eliasberg collection.
Most
common date of the series. Rare above MS66. The finest
certified is a single MS68. Found with the final 1 of
the date over a faint 0. Also found with an S/S mintmark.
Usually
well struck, sometimes with copper stains. Rare above
MS64. The finest certified are 6 in MS67. 119 proofs
have been certified in all grades by both services.
Type
coin that is common in most grades. Rare above MS66.
The finest certified is a single example in MS68. Approximately
51 to 74 proofs are known 1904
Half Eagle $5 Liberty NGC PF67
Usually
strongly impressed but often with copper stains. Easily
available in grades below MS65. The finest certified
is a single MS68 example. Approximately 76 to 99 proofs
are known.
Common
in most grades. Rare above MS65. The finest certified
are 10 in MS67. Also seen with the overdate 1906/6.
Approximately 61 to 74 proofs are known.