1894-O $5 (1894-O Half Eagle) NGC MS61. This Southern branch mint 1894-O Half Eagle is tied for third finest. As expected for an uncirculated coin, no wear is found. The surfaces are clean for the grade with no individual marks worthy of mention, giving the coin a premium quality look. The strike is above average with details on the centers of most of the stars and the strands of Libertys hair. On the reverse, the eagles neck feathers and shield are well struck. Significant mint luster is found in protected areas of the coin on both sides.

The Liberty Head (Motto on Reverse) half eagle was minted from 1866 to 1908. It was designed by Christian Gobrecht and showed Liberty wearing a coronet as she faced left in profile. Her hair is tied in the back with beads while two loose curls flow down her neck. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars with the date below. Dentils are near the edge of both sides of the coin. The reverse shows the heraldic eagle with its head turned to the left. In its talons it holds an olive branch and arrows, symbols of peace and preparedness. Above its head on a banner, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added. The denomination is below. In addition to dentils, the coin has a reeded edge.

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.)

The mintage of 16,600 for the 1894-O half eagle was a fraction of the Philadelphia Mints output for the date and denomination, and it was the last half eagle from the New Orleans Mint. In its population report, NGC shows 64 in MS61 condition with 16 better.