The $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle is a genuine piece of 19th-century American coinage, struck in .900 fine gold by the U.S. Mint during one of the most active periods in the nation’s monetary history. The series ran from 1839 to 1908, and surviving Brilliant Uncirculated examples carry both the gold content collectors expect and the age that sets pre-33 U.S. gold apart from modern bullion. The coin shown is dated 1897, though dates are subject to our choice and will vary.
Key Features::
- Purity and Weight: .900 fine gold (90% gold, 10% copper alloy); approximately 0.2418 troy oz of pure gold
- Metal: Gold
- Face Value: $5 USD — original U.S. legal tender
- Obverse Design: Left-facing portrait of Liberty in a coronet inscribed “LIBERTY,” surrounded by 13 stars and the date below
- Reverse Design: Heraldic eagle with spread wings, shield on chest, olive branch and arrows in talons; scroll reading “IN GOD WE TRUST” above; “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “FIVE D.” around the border
The obverse carries a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a coronet with “LIBERTY” inscribed across the band, her hair drawn back in layered curls behind the ear. Thirteen stars ring the portrait — representing the original colonies — with the date centered at the bottom. The example shown is dated 1897, a Philadelphia Mint year with strong production numbers for the series.
The reverse presents a heraldic eagle with wings spread wide, head turned right, a striped shield across its chest, an olive branch in its right talon and a bundle of arrows in its left. A scroll above the eagle carries “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The legends “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arc across the top and “FIVE D.” appears along the lower border, flanked by dots. The coin’s warm, deep gold tone is consistent with the 90% gold alloy used throughout the Liberty Head series.
The $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle is a pre-1933 U.S. gold coin, making it exempt from potential gold reporting requirements that apply to some modern bullion products. The coin is sold in Brilliant Uncirculated condition with dates of our choice — the 1897-dated example shown is representative of the grade and type you will receive. No packaging is included.
Over 0.24 troy oz of U.S. gold, a coin type with more than 125 years of age behind it, and pre-33 status that collectors and investors both value — the $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle covers a lot of ground in a single purchase. Add one to your cart today.