1808 Half Eagle (1808 $5) NGC MS63. BD-3, R-4. Early Half Eagle. The devices on this 1808 half eagle shimmer with bright luster. There are a couple of minor contact marks in the fields of both sides and a few between the letters of the motto, which probably keep this coin from the gem category. The strike is full and sharp on both sides with every detail of Libertys hair and every feather and line on the shield complete. John Reich designed this coin, which was first issued in 1807. His half dollars had a similar design. It was criticized because Liberty was seen as the artists fat mistress. On the previous eagles of 1795-1807, Liberty faced right, perhaps looking towards Europe. On Reichs design, she faces left, toward the frontier. He also removed the word LIBERTY from the top of the coin and placed it on the headband.

The most significant change was the portrait of Liberty. In addition to looking left, she wears a modified Phrygian cap. A true Phrygian cap or pllleus was shaped like half an eggshell. In ancient Rome it was worn by former slaves to symbolize emancipation and to conceal the closely cropped hair or shaved head, which marked slave status. In 1825 Mint Director Samuel Moore asked Thomas Jefferson if the cap was a suitable emblem. Jefferson responded that a liberty cap should not be worn by a goddess who herself represents liberty, after all we were never slaves. However, the device continued to be used on gold coinage until 1834.

A second major change was the use of the denomination on the coin. Previous gold and silver coins, with the exception of the 1796-97 half dollars, lacked this information because they were thought of as bullion and were valued by their weight and precious metal content as was the case with the European coins that circulated and were accepted in the United States. Reich used 5 D. for the denomination. He used the numeral and the abbreviation because lettering would have interfered with the olive branch leaves, and the design would have been much too crowded. In addition to the denomination, Reich also changed the reverse by fixing the heraldic eagle. The arrows are now seen in the eagles left claw with the olive branch in the right. He also removed the stars and clouds above them and moved the banner with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM to arc above the eagles head.

While serving as the Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson was also in charge of the Mint. In his travels to France, Jefferson learned about the various aspects of the minting process. In 1801, as president, he recommended that John Reich be hired as Engraver at the Mint. Reich was a skilled engraver who had sold himself into indentured servitude in order to finance his passage to the United States from Bavaria. While John Reich was unable to become the Engraver, he was hired for other duties and became Robert Scotts assistant. Because Scotts eyesight was failing, the new Mint Director, Robert Patterson assigned Reich to redesign the contemporary coinage. The first two were the half dollar and half eagle.

Unlike later dates, most coins of this design are found in circulated condition because the half eagle was the coin of choice for most American commerce. With a total mintage of 55,578, one would think the coin is common today; however, the NGC population report shows only 26 in MS 63 with 18 better. In total, only 201 have been certified in mint state by both grading services, and this number does not account for resubmissions and crossovers.