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PROOF HALF EAGLES - PROOF INDIAN HEAD HALF EALGES - PROOF HALF EAGLE GOLD COINS
Proof Half Eagles
CLICK HERE to buy Proof Half Eagles & Proof Gold Coins
Reich’s Capped Head Proof Half Eagles 1813-1834: John Reich designed the half eagles of 1813 to 1834. They are known as the Capped Heads. Only the 1813 to 1815 were designed by John Reich. Although the 1818 to 1829 were done by Robert Scott, he copied Reich’s earlier design.

The obverse shows Liberty facing left wearing a cap inscribed LIBERTY. She is surrounded by thirteen stars with the date below. Scott’s copies were not nearly as artistic as Reich’s. Liberty’s features are coarse and thick. His eagle is more defiant with its opened mouth and aggressively curved neck. The heraldic eagle is surrounded by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Below is the denomination, 5 D. E PLURIBUS UNUM is on a banner over the eagle’s head between its wings. Dentils border both sides of the coin.

No proof mintage for this series is listed in the Red Book, A Guide Book of United States Coins. Obviously any that are seen are prohibitively rare. The population reports of both grading services list 6 proof coins in all conditions for all dates of this design type. NGC has 1 for 1830 and 3 for 1833, and PGCS has 1 for 1832 and 1 for 1833.

Specifications:
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 8.748 grams (135.0 grains) (0.2812 troy ounces)
Diameter: 25 millimeters
Composition: 91.76% gold, 8.33% copper
Gold Content: 8.027 grams (123.88 grains) (0.2580 troy ounces)


Kneass’ Classic Head Proof Half Eagles 1834-1838 : William Kneass designed the half eagles of 1834 to 1838. They are known as the Classic Heads. Kneass adapted an earlier design for the five dollar gold piece. He used John Reich’s cent “Classic Head” motif of 1808-14. For the reverse he adopted Reich’s half eagle design of 1807. However, he omitted the banner with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. In order to prevent continued melting for bullion purposes, the weight and fineness of the coin were reduced. As a result most of the original gold coins that were minted prior to 1834 were turn in to the mint, much of it to be used to make the new half eagles.

The design shows Liberty facing left with her hair in a headband inscribed with LIBERTY. Curls flow down the back and most of the side of her neck. She is surrounded by thirteen stars. The date is below. Near the edge of the coin on both sides are dentils. The reverse shows the heraldic eagle facing left with wings outstretched and mouth opened. Between the olive branch leaves and the wing is UNITED. Above the eagle’s head are STATES OF followed by AMERICA after the wing tip down to the arrows. The denomination is written as 5D. as it was on the previous issue.

Classic Head proof half eagles are so elusive that none are list in the “Red Book,” A Guide Book of United States Coins. The NGC population report lists 11 and PGCS lists 4. For 1834 8 are listed by both services, 1835 2 are listed, 4 are listed, none for 1837, and 1 for 1838.

Specifications:
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 8.359 grams (129.0 grains) (.2687 troy ounces)
Diameter: 22.5 millimeters
Composition: (1834-36) 89.92% gold, 10.08% silver & copper - (1837-38) 90% gold, 10% copper
Gold Content: (1834-36) 7.516 grams (115.989 grains) (0.2416 troy ounces) - (1837-38) 7.523 grams (116.097 grains) (0.2418 troy ounces)


Gobrecht’s Proof Half Eagle 1839-1908: Because Engraver William Kneass, suffering from a stroke, was unable to work, Mint Director Robert Patterson asked Assistant Engraver Christian Gobrecht to design a new half eagle that was uniform with the eagle of 1838. He used the coronet motif obverse and the heraldic eagle reverse.

Christian Gobrecht’s Coronet Heads, No Motto were minted from 1839 to 1866. There were two types of the design, the first with the mint mark on the obverse above the date and the second with the mint mark above the denomination on the reverse. Gobrecht modified the previous design’s denomination, 5D. He replaced the numeral with the word FIVE. The design shows Liberty facing left, surrounded by thirteen stars, her hair tied with beads in a bun, wearing a coronet on which is inscribed LIBERTY. She also has two long loose curls, one on the back of her neck and one from behind her ear. The reverse is the heraldic eagle design, which shows the eagle facing left with wings outstretched, holding olive branch and arrows in the correct claws with a union shield attached to its chest. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the reverse with the denomination at the bottom. Dots precede and follow the denomination separating it from the legend.

The coinage act of 1865 specified that motto IN GOD WE TRUST should be added to all coins large enough to accommodate it. The Mint interpreted this law to mean that the motto had to be added to silver coins larger than the dime and gold half eagles, eagles and double eagles. James Longacre, who was now the Engraver, added the motto scroll to the reverse under STATES OF, creating Type 2 of this design.

All Coronet Head half eagle proofs are rare. It is estimated that the Type 1 design had a mintage of approximately 450 while Type 2 had 2,938 struck. In their population reports, both major grading services combined have 121 Type 1 proofs and 1703 Type 2’s certified in all grades.

While the Type 1’s are extremely rare, the Type 2’s are rarer than their number struck might suggest. Many are impaired. Pieces dated from 1880 to 1886 were mishandled at the mint and are often found scratched or nicked. Later many were spent during depression years.

An example of a Type 1 proof is the 1862 issue. On this coin the date is low and placed the right nearer the thirteenth star than the first. The date is small but heavily punched. There were 35 proof coins minted for this date. In their population reports, both major grading services combined have 13 for this date.

An example of a Type 2 proof is the 1885 issue. On this coin the date is placed to the left. The peak of 1 is nearer the point of the bust than the 5 is to the right end of the truncation. The 5 is closed. There were 66 proof coins minted for this date. In their population reports, both major grading services combined have 40 for this date.

Another example of a Type 2 proof is the 1887 issue, which is the key to the series. The date on this coin slants up to the right. The left base of 1 is close to the edge of the coin, and the base of the 7 is further away, while the top of the 7 is very close to the truncation. Authentication is required for this issue because forgeries were made by polishing the fields and removing the S on the 1887-S coin, which is a common date. For this date there was no regular Philadelphia mintage and only 87 proof coins were struck. In their population reports, both major grading services combined have 25 for this issue.

Another example of a Type 2 proof is the 1904 issue. On this coin the date slants up slightly to the right. A small spine is found down from the toe of the L in LIBERTY. On the reverse, the outer leaf in the upper group is short and the upper outer berry looks like a claw. There is a hollow in the wing below the I in IN. There were 136 proof coins minted for this date. In their population reports, both major grading services combined have 122 proofs for this date.

Specifications:
Edge:
Reeded
Weight: 8.359 grams (129.0 grains) (.2687 troy ounces)
Diameter: 22.5 millimeters (1839-1840); 21.6 millimeters (1840-1908)
Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper
Gold Content: 7.523 grams (116.097 grains) (0.2418 troy ounces)


Pratt’s Proof Half Eagle 1908-1929: Early in 1908, Dr. William Bigelow, a friend of President Theodore Roosevelt, convinced the president that the quarter and half eagles should be made with the relief reversed. He felt that if the devices were below the field, they would be protected. Roosevelt agreed so Bigelow then persuaded Bela Lyon Pratt, the Boston sculptor and student of the late Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to submit designs for the new coinage.

For the obverse, Pratt chose the head of a Native American. Choosing this figure is in keeping with the Mint Act of 1792, which calls for a design “emblematic of Liberty.” Native Americans were, after all, free people until the white men came and disrupted their way of life. Pratt’s model was not named and his tribe is unknown. However, unlike many other so called “Indian Heads,” which were Caucasian female figures of Liberty wearing Indian headdress, this one is clearly portrays a Native American. On the coin his profile looks left. Above his head is the word LIBERTY and below is the date. At the left rim, starting at the truncation is an arc of six stars. Seven are on the right side of the coin.

The reverse is reminiscent of Saint-Gaudens’ eagle. A majestic standing eagle looks left. Below it are arrows and an olive branch. Above in an arc near the edge are the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA separated by round dots. The denomination, FIVE DOLLARS, with dot between, is below. IN GOD WE TRUST is behind the eagle and E PLURIBUS UNUM is in front of it.

As soon as they were issued, objections were made to the new design. It was said that the incused features would retain dirt and the coins would be unsanitary. They were also too easily counterfeited and couldn’t be stacked, and the design was not natural. Despite these objections, the coin remained in use until 1929.

The half eagle proof coins of 1908-15 are considerably more rare than are the Gobrecht half eagles of the previous decade. For the Mint, this was a time of experimentation. Not only was this the first United States coin to have an incused design, the Mint also experimented with proof finishes. Three different ones are used on these proofs – matte, sand blast, and satin or “Roman Finish.” Many business strikes are seen with simulated surfaces; although, these lack the sharpness of a true proof coin. Based on existing populations, it is clear that much of the proof coinage was not saved and those that were are rare. It is also likely that many were turned in 1934 during the Great Recall.

The total business strike mintage for this design is 14,078,066, and the proof mintage is only 1,077. NGC reports 344 proofs in all grades and PCGS shows 218.

In 1908 the proof mintage was 167. Most have a dark matte finish with the color between khaki and olive. One “Roman Finish” has been reported. In its population reports NGC shows 88 for this issue and PGCS has 58.

In 1909 the proof mintage was 78. These were a pale lemon color with a satiny, semi-brilliant finish. Two dark matte proofs have been reported. In its population reports NGC shows 37 for this issue and PGCS has 22

The 1910 mintage was 250, the largest number for this proof half eagle. These have a satiny or “Roman Finish.” In its populationreports NGC shows 46 for this issue and PGCS has 26.

In 1911, the mintage was 139. These proofs have a dark, mustard colored matte sandblast finish. In its population reports NGC shows 55 for this issue and PGCS has 30.

In 1912, the proof mintage was 144. These have a fine sandblast finish. In its population reports NGC shows 35 for this issue and PGCS has 28.

In 1913, there were 99 proof minted. They have a fine sandblast finish. In its population reports NGC shows 28 for this issue and PGCS has 19.

In 1914, there were 125 minted. These proofs have a coarse sandblast finish. In its population reports NGC shows 34 for this issue and PGCS has 20.

The 75 1915 proofs were the last minted for this type. These have a coarse sandblast finish. In its population reports NGC shows 21 forthis issue and PGCS has 15.

Specifications:
Edge:
Reeded
Weight: 8.359 grams (129.0 grains) (.2687 troy ounces)
Diameter: 21.6 millimeters
Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper
Gold Content: 7.523 grams (116.097 grains) (0.2418 troy ounces)

DATE NOTES
Proof 1825 Half Eagle Most of these are 1825/1 overdates. Only two examples are known of the 1825/4 overdate.
Proof 1826 Half Eagle  
Proof 1827 Half Eagle  
Proof 1828 Half Eagle Both the Normal Date and the 1828/7 overdate are extremely rare.
Proof 1829 Half Eagle Comes with Large and Small Dates.
Proof 1830 Half Eagle Found with Large or Small D's at the base of the reverse.
Proof 1831 Half Eagle Found with Large or Small D's at the base of the reverse.
Proof 1832 Half Eagle Found with Curved or Flat Based 2's in the date. The Curved Base 2 is extremely rare.
Proof 1833 Half Eagle Found with Large and Small Dates.
Proof 1834 Half Eagle Found with Plain and Crosslet 4's.
Proof 1834 Half Eagle Comes with Plain or Crosslet 4's in the date. The Plain 4 type comes with Fancy or Block 8's in the date.
Proof 1835 Half Eagle  
Proof 1836 Half Eagle  
Proof 1837 Half Eagle Comes with Fancy or Block 8's in the date.
Proof 1838 Half Eagle  
Proof 1839 Half Eagle  
Proof 1840 Half Eagle  
Proof 1841 Half Eagle  
Proof 1842 Half Eagle Found with Small and Large letters on the reverse.
Proof 1843 Half Eagle  
Proof 1844 Half Eagle  
Proof 1844-O Half Eagle  
Proof 1845 Half Eagle  
Proof 1846 Half Eagle  
Proof 1847 Half Eagle  
Proof 1848 Half Eagle  
Proof 1857 Half Eagle  
Proof 1858 Half Eagle  
Proof 1859 Half Eagle  
Proof 1860 Half Eagle  
Proof 1861 Half Eagle  
Proof 1862 Half Eagle  
Proof 1863 Half Eagle  
Proof 1864 Half Eagle  
Proof 1865 Half Eagle  
Proof 1866 Half Eagle  
Proof 1867 Half Eagle  
Proof 1868 Half Eagle  
Proof 1869 Half Eagle  
Proof 1870 Half Eagle  
Proof 1871 Half Eagle  
Proof 1872 Half Eagle  
Proof 1873 Half Eagle Found with Open and Closed 3's in the date.
Proof 1874 Half Eagle  
Proof 1875 Half Eagle  
Proof 1876 Half Eagle  
Proof 1877 Half Eagle  
Proof 1878 Half Eagle  
Proof 1879 Half Eagle  
Proof 1880 Half Eagle  
Proof 1881 Half Eagle Look for the 1881/0 overdate.
Proof 1882 Half Eagle  
Proof 1883 Half Eagle  
Proof 1884 Half Eagle  
Proof 1885 Half Eagle  
Proof 1886 Half Eagle  
Proof 1887 Half Eagle Struck only as Proofs.
Proof 1888 Half Eagle  
Proof 1889 Half Eagle  
Proof 1890 Half Eagle  
Proof 1891 Half Eagle  
Proof 1892 Half Eagle  
Proof 1893 Half Eagle  
Proof 1894 Half Eagle  
Proof 1895 Half Eagle  
Proof 1896 Half Eagle  
Proof 1897 Half Eagle  
Proof 1898 Half Eagle  
Proof 1899 Half Eagle  
Proof 1900 Half Eagle  
Proof 1901 Half Eagle  
Proof 1902 Half Eagle  
Proof 1903 Half Eagle  
Proof 1904 Half Eagle 1904 $5 Liberty NGC PF67
Proof 1905 Half Eagle  
Proof 1906 Half Eagle  
Proof 1907 Half Eagle  
Proof 1908 Indian Head Half Eagle 1908 $5 Indian NGC PF67
Proof 1909 Indian Head Half Eagle  
Proof 1910, Roman Proof, Indian Half Eagle 1910 Indian Head $5, NGC PF66, Roman Proof
Proof 1911 Indian Head Half Eagle  
Proof 1912 Indian Head Half Eagle 1912 $5 Indian NGC PF66
Proof 1913 Indian Head Half Eagle  
Proof 1914 Indian Head Half Eagle  
Proof 1915 Indian Head Half Eagle  


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