Half Eagle Gold Coins: The half eagle gold coins were the
first gold coins actually struck for the United States. The
five-dollar piece (five dollar gold coins) was authorized
to be coined by the Act of April 2, 1792, and the first type
weighed 135 grains, .9167 fineness. The Act of June 28, 1834,
changed the weight to 129 grains, .8992 fineness. Fineness
became .900 by the Act of January 18, 1837.
There are many varieties among the early dates, caused by
changes in the number of stars and style of eagle, by overdates,
and by differences in the size of figures in the dates. Those
dated prior to 1807 do not bear any mark of value. The 1822
half eagle gold coin is considered one of the most valuable
regular-issue coins of the entire United States series. Proofs
of some dates prior to 1855 are known to exist, and all of
those gold coins are rare. Commemorative and bullion $5 gold
coins have been made at West Point since 1986 and 1994, respectively;
thus this is the only U.S. denomination made at each of the
eight mints.
CAPPED BUST TO RIGHT HALF EAGLE GOLD COINS (1795 - 1807)
This type of gold coins was struck from mid-1795 through
early 1798, when the Small Eagle reverse was changed to
the Large or "Heraldic" Eagle. Note that the 1795
and 1797 dates exist for both types, but that the Heraldic
Eagle reverses of these dates were probably struck in 1798
using serviceable 1795 and 1797 dies. Designer Robert Scot; weight 8.75 grams; composition
.9167 gold,.0833 silver and copper; appro, diameter 25 mm;
reeded edge.
CAPPED HEAD TO LEFT HALF EAGLE GOLD COINS (1813 - 1834)
Large Diameter (1813-1829) Bold Relief (1813-1815)
Reduced Diameter (1829-1834) The half eagle gold coins dated 1829 (small date) through
1834 are smaller in diameter than the earlier pieces. They
also have smaller letters, dates, and stars. Design modified by William Keass; standards same as before;
diameter 23.8mm.
CLASSIC HEAD HALF EAGLE GOLD COINS (1834 - 1838)
As on the quarter eagle gold coins of 1834, the motto E
PLURIBUS UNUM was omitted from the new, reduced-size half
eagle in 1834, to distinguish the old coins that had become
worth more than face value. Designer William Kneass; weight 8.36 grams; composition
(1834-1836) .8992 gold, .1008 silver and copper, (1837-1838)
.900 gold; diameter 22.5 mm; reeded edge; mints: Philadelphia,
Charlotte, Dahlonega.
Variety
2 - Motto Above Eagle (1866 - 1908) Designer Christian Gobrecht; weight 8.359 grams; composition
.900 gold,. 100 copper (net weight .24187 oz. pure gold);
diameter 21.6 mm; reeded edge; mints: Philadelphia, Carson
City, Denver, New Orleans, San Francisco.
INDIAN HEAD HALF EAGLE GOLD COINS (1908-1929)
This type conforms to the quarter eagle gold coins of the
same date. The sunken (incuse) designs and lettering make
these two series unique in United States coinage. Designer Bela Lyon Pratt; weight 8.359 grams; composition
.900 gold, . 100 copper (net weight .24187 02. pure gold);
diameter 21.6 mm; reeded edge; mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
New Orleans, San Francisco.
