1802/1 $5 (1802/1 Half Eagle) NGC MS61. Early Half Eagle. This early date, gold 1802/1 Half Eagle has an above average strike. On the obverse about half of the stars and the strands of Libertys hair show sharpness of detail. On the reverse some of the clouds, stars, and upper feathers show good striking detail. No wear is seen on the coin, as expected for a mint state piece. Subdued mint luster is seen in the protected areas of the coin. This coin is a true overdate with the 2 clearly over the 1. Clash marks add interest to the obverse of the coin.

Robert Scot designed the half eagle. The obverse shows Liberty facing right. Below her is the date which is off center to the left. Between the date and the word LIBERTY on the left side of the coin are eight stars. Another five stars follow LIBERTY down to the bust. Liberty wears a large, soft cap. Her hair flows down and also shows on her forehead. The design was probably taken from a Roman engraving of a Greek goddess. Libertys cap was certainly not a Phrygian or liberty cap. The liberty cap, emblematic of freedom, was worn by freed slaves and freed gladiators in Roman times. It was a close fitting cap used to cover a shorn head, which was one of the way slaves were identified. The oversized cap worn by Liberty has been called a turban, and the design has been called the Turban Head because of it. The reverse uses the heraldic eagle motif taken from the Great Seal of the United States. An eagle with upright wings is surrounded by the inscription UNITED STATE OF AMERICA, interrupted by the wing tips. Across the eagles neck is a banner that holds the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Above its head are stars, and above the stars are clouds. In its talons the eagle holds the olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace and preparedness. However, the design is actually incorrect. Scot reversed the position of the warlike arrows and the olive branch. The resulting symbolism is either an extremely martial stance of saber-rattling as a result of an undeclared naval war with France known as the Franco-American War or a stupid blunder. If a blunder, it was blindly followed for many denominations that Scot designed.

The early eagle coins have no denomination because gold was valued by its weight and fineness as was the European coinage of the time. As seen on contemporary Large Cents, dentils are at the edge of both the obverse and reverse of these coins.

Scot was appointed Chief Engraver of the United States Mint on November 23, 1793 by David Rittenhouse, Mint Director. His salary in 1795 was $1,200 per year. The Mint Director received only $800 dollars per year more. Scots ability to make dies was limited, and he was advanced in years with failing eyesight. His work was somewhat less than that done in Europe at the time, and Scot was criticized for its poor quality. He was responsible for designs of most of Americas first coins. These include the Flowing Hair and the Draped Bust motifs used on the early silver coins, and the gold quarter eagle, half eagle and eagle. Scot also designed the 1794-1797 half cent, the 1800-1808 draped bust half cent, and the Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. Scot died on November 1, 1823 and was succeeded by William Kneass as Chief Engraver.

In its population report, NGC shows 18 1802/1 half eagles certified at MS62 with 27 better.