| About This Coin: |
| The Half Eagle is a United States coin that was produced for circulation from 1795 to 1929 and in commemorative and bullion coins since the 1980s. Composed almost entirely of gold, it has a face value of five dollars. Its production was authorized by The Act of April 2, 1792, and it was the first gold coin minted by the United States.
In 1839 the coin was redesigned again. The new obverse was designed by Christian Gobrecht and is known as the “Liberty Head or “Coronet head”. The $5.00 gold coin was the first gold coin minted by the U.S. government. After several design changes throughout history, Christian Golbrecht designed one of the final $5 Liberty gold coins which was minted from 1839 until 1908 when the $5 Indian was introduced. The obverse (front) of the coin is very similar to the $2.50 and $20 Liberty coins featuring Lady Liberty donning a coronet inscribed with the word ‘LIBERTY’. 13 stars representing the 13 original colonies and the date encircle Lady Liberty. The reverse (back) shows a bald eagle with spread wings behind a shield with stars and stripes. The reverse design remained largely the same, although the value was changed from “5 D.” to “Five D.” The eagle clinches an olive branch and three arrows in his talons. The words ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’, the denomination and the mint mark surround the eagle. Coins minted from 1839 through 1866 do not include the motto ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’. In 1866 the reverse was modified by adding the motto on a ribbon above the eagle. It holds the distinction of being the only coin of a single design to be minted at seven U.S. Mints: Philadelphia, Dahlonega, Charlotte, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City, and Denver. |
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