1809/8 $5 (1809/8 Half Eagle) NGC AU53. Some muted mint luster remains within the devices of this early date 1809/8 Half Eagle. The strike is sharp and full. John Reich designed the Capped Bust Half Eagle of 1807 to 1834. Although the 1818 to 1829 were done by Robert Scott, he copied Reichs earlier design, and the 1829 to 1834 designs were modified by William Kneass.

The obverse shows Liberty in profile facing left wearing a LIBERTY inscribed cap that was intended to represent a Phrygian cap. Reichs design has seven stars to the left of Liberty and six to the right with the date below. The reverse shows an eagle with its opened mouth and an aggressively curved neck. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the eagle, interrupted by the wing tips. On a banner over the eagles head between its wings is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. The denomination written as 5 D is below. Dentils are seen at the periphery of both sides of the coin.

Reich corrected the error made by Robert Scot in the design of the previous half eagle (as well as his other heraldic eagle motifs). Scot had placed the arrows in the eagles right or dexter claw and put the olive branch in the left or sinister claw. This reversal of the positions of these two items is an inaccurate modification of the Great Seal of the United States. Arrows in the right claw symbolize extreme militarism. On the Capped Bust Half Eagle, the olive branch is in the right claw and the arrows are in the left, more in keeping with heraldic tradition.

In 1825 Mint Director Samuel Moore wrote to Thomas Jefferson asking him about the proper emblem of Liberty for our coins. Jefferson replied that the Phrygian cap was not appropriate to be worn on the head of a goddess on United States coinage since we were never slaves. Nonetheless, the cap remained until the Capped Bust Half Eagle was replaced by the Classic Heads of 1834.