1880-CC Half Eagle - 1880-CC $5 PCGS AU50 CAC. In its population report, PCGS shows 35 1880-CC half eagles certified at the AU50 grade level. At CAC, as of March 2014, there are 2 confirmed at the AU50 grade level. Of all the PCGS and NGC certified 1880-CC half eagles, less than 4% have been given CAC stickers.

Here is a fresh-looking, very lightly circulated, Western branch mint 1880-CC half eagle. The light and dark yellow-gold and rose-gold colors show that the coin is completely original. Its surfaces are extremely clean for the grade with no notable abrasion marks or other distractions. The devices are outlined with toning giving the coin an eye-catching appeal. It was originally well struck with full details remaining in the centers of the stars and much of Libertys hair. The CAC sticker confirms that the coin is a premium quality piece that fully merits the assigned grade.

The Liberty or Coronet Head half eagle was minted from 1839 to 1908. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, it shows Liberty facing left in profile wearing a LIBERTY inscribed coronet with her hair tied in the back with beads. Two long curls hang down her neck, one in the back and the other on the side. She is surrounded with thirteen six-pointed stars. The date is below the truncation, which shows no drapery. The motif is taken from a Benjamin West painting of Venus. It was also used with modifications for the Large Cents of 1839. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with outstretched wing looking to the left. On its chest is the Union shield. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows. Except for the tips of the eagles wings UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the reverse, separated from the denomination FIVE D. by dots. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the coin, and the edge is reeded. Type 2 was created when the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to a banner designed by James B. Longacre above the eagle in 1866. The change was made in response to pressure organized by the Reverend M.R. Watkinson.

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 (Motto on Reverse) half eagle was created as a result of this mandate. (All silver coins larger than a dime also had the motto added.)

In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to William Kneass. After Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work for the Mint. He became Chief Engraver in 1840 and served until his death in 1844. He was famous for his Liberty Seated motif, which was used for all denominations of silver coinage including the half-dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar. He also designed the Liberty Head gold eagle, a motif that was also used on the half-cent, the cent, the gold quarter eagle, and the gold half eagle.