1834 Half Eagle - 1834 $2.50 Classic Plain 4, PCGS MS61. Here is a first-year-of-type, lustrous Classic Head 1834 Half Eagle in Uncirculated condition. Bright mint luster outlines and is found within the yellow-gold devices. The fields are a slightly darker greenish gold. These colors attest to the coins never-been-cleaned originality. The surfaces are clean for the grade with no notable abrasion marks or other distractions. The striking weakness that is often seen on the higher areas of the hair curls and the centers of the stars is absent. Both of these areas have full details. The rims and the dentils are full on both sides as well.

William Kneass designed the Classic Head half eagle, which was minted from 1834 to 1838. He chose to use Reichs Classic Head motif that was used on large cents of 1808 to 1814. Kneass also adapted Reichs eagle from the five dollar piece of 1807. The design of the coin shows a profile of Liberty facing left. Her curly hair is held with a band that is inscribed LIBERTY. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, with the date below. Around the periphery are dentils on both sides. The coin has a reeded edge. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle whose head is turned to the left. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows, symbols peace and preparedness.

The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appears in an interrupted arc around the coin with the denomination, written as 5 D. below. Missing is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, which was removed from the reverse to signify the change in weight from 135 grains to 129. It seems that Mint Director Samuel Moore was looking for a reason to phase out the motto for several years, and the change in weight mandated by Congress was the perfect opportunity. The weight and fineness of the coin were changed in order to prevent continued melting for bullion purposes. As a result most of the original gold coins that were minted prior to1834 were turned in to the mint, much of it to be used to make the new half eagles.

Kneass (pronounced Niece) was the second Chief Engraver. He served from 1824 until his death in 1840. In addition to the Classic Head Half Eagle, his classic head motif was used on the quarter eagles of 1834 to 1839. Kneass modified Reichs Capped Bust motif for silver coinage for the years 1829 to 1837 and the half dime in 1829.

For the last five years of his life, Kneass suffered from the results of a severe stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side. For those years, his assistant Christian Gobrecht did the die and pattern work at the Mint. When Kneass died in 1840, Gobrecht succeeded him as Chief Engraver.

In its population report, PCGS shows 35 1834 Classic Head, Plain 4 half eagles at the MS61 grade level.