LIBERTY HEAD (MOTTO
ON REVERSE) FIVE DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE (1866-1908)
Gobrecht’s LIBERTY HEAD (MOTTO ON REVERSE)
FIVE DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE: The Liberty Head Motto
on Reverse or With Motto half eagle was minted from 1866
to 1908. It was designed by Christian Gobrecht and shows
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 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 With Motto half eagle was created as a result of this
mandate. (All silver coins larger than a dime also had the
motto added.)
A prototype in proof only was struck in 1865. Only two
are known. In 1866 dies were shipped to San Francisco for
the new reverse to be struck; however, evidently they did
not arrive on time and 9,000 1866 No Motto coins were struck.
Later in the year 34,920 Liberty Head With Motto coins were
made bearing the S mintmark.
According to the records of the United States Treasury
Department, the first request for the recognition of God
on coinage was made in a letter from the Reverend Mark Richards
Watkinson of Ridlelyville, Pennsylvania on November 13,
1861 to Salmon P. Chase, Treasury Secretary. “You
are about to submit your annual report to Congress respecting
the affairs of the national finances,” Watkinson said
in the letter. “One fact touching our currency has
hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition
of the Almighty God in some form in our coins.” This
letter set off a series of events that caused an 1864 law
to be passed allowing the “In God We Trust”
motto to be placed on coins and the 1865 law that mandated
it. Mintages of the Liberty Head With Motto half eagle range
from an extremely low 200 in 1875 to 5,708,802 in 1881.
The 1875 coin is extremely rare. Both major grading services
have certified only 12 in all grades and that does not account
for resubmissions and crossovers.
1866
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Low
mintage usually seen in VF or XF grades. Only 9 have been
certified in Mint State, the highest of which is a single
MS63 piece. Approximately 16 to 19 proofs are known.
1866-S
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Heavily
circulated issue with tiny mintmark. Only 1 is certified
in Mint State, an MS61.
1867
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist of
this low mintage issue. Only 4 have been certified in
Mint State, the highest of which is an MSPL61. Approximately
16 to 19 proofs are known.
1867-S
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Mint
mark is very small and weak. None have been certified
in Mint State. Highest certified are 5 AU58s.
1868
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Low
mintage usually seen in VF or XF. Only 3 have been certified
in Mint State, the highest are 2 in MS62. Approximately
14 to 15 proofs are known.
1868-S
Half Eagle - Scarce in circulated grades. Condition
rarity in Mint State. Only 3 have been certified the highest
of which are 2 in MS61.
1869
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Extremely
low mintage usually seen in XF to AU. Only 5 have been
graded in Mint State the highest of which are 2 in MSPL64.
Approximately 16 to 19 proofs are known.
1869-S
Half Eagle - Usually weakly struck centers with small,
weak mintmark. Very rare in Mint State with only 4 certified,
the finest of which is 1 in MS62.
1870
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist, usually
found in XF condition. Only 2 have been graded in Mint
State; both are MS61s. Approximately 11 to 14 proofs are
known.
1870-S
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist, usually
with small, weak mintmark. None have been certified in
Mint State. The highest are 3 in AU58.
1870-CC
Half Eagle - First year of issue from CC Mint. Approximately
80 to 85 are known in all grades. Only 3 have been certified
in Mint State the finest of which is a single MS62 example.
1871
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Extremely
low mintage, usually seen in VF to XF grades. Only 7 have
been certified in Mint State, and 5 of them are in MS61
condition. Approximately 11 proofs are known.
1871-S
Half Eagle - Usually found in XF to AU condition.
Only 5 have been certified in Mint State, all of which
grade MS61. Some have a repunched date.
1871-CC
Half Eagle - Usually found in XF condition. Only 4
have been certified in Mint State, the finest of which
is a single MS63.
1872
Half Eagle - Extremely low mintage. About 55 to 60
are known in all grades. Only 55 have been certified in
all grades by both services. There are 9 certified in
Mint State, the finest of which are 4 in MS64. Approximately
15 to 17 proofs are known.
1872-S
Half Eagle - Rare in all grades with most found XF
to AU. Only 3 have been certified in Mint State, all of
which grade MS61.
1872-CC
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. None
have been certified in Mint State. The finest are 5 in
AU58.
1873
Half Eagle - Found with Open and Close 3 in the date.
The Close 3 is slightly rarer. Both varieties are available
in low uncirculated grades. The finest certified Open
3 are 3 in MS65. The finest certified Close 3 are 3 in
MS66. Approximately 15 to 17 proofs are known.
1873-S
Half Eagle - Most are found in XF to AU condition.
The finest is a single MS61.
1873-CC
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Most
grade G to VG. Only 2 examples are certified in Mint State,
the finest of which is a single MS62.
1874
Half Eagle - Most are found in XF to AU condition
with good strikes and prooflike surfaces. Only 9 have
been certified in Mint State with the finest being a single
MS64. Approximately 11 proofs are known.
1874-S
Half Eagle - Most are found in VF to XF condition
with none certified in Mint State. The finest are a group
of 9 in AU58 condition.
1874-CC
Half Eagle - Most are found in XF to AU condition.
Only 3 have been certified in Mint State, the highest
of which are 2 in MS62.
1875
Half Eagle - Tiny mintage; fewer than 10 are known
in all grades. Included in the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins.
Only 12 have been certified with none in Mint State. The
highest certified are 3 in AU55. Approximately 13 proofs
are known.
1875-S
Half Eagle - Fewer than 100 are known to exist. Most
examples are well worn. The highest certified is a single
MS60.
1875-CC
Half Eagle - Mostly available in XF grades, usually
poorly struck. Only 2 have been certified in Mint State,
the finest is a single MS63 example.
1876
Half Eagle - Extremely low mintage coin. Approximately
45 are known to exist in all grades. Several high grades
saved as souvenirs of the centennial. 13 have been certified
in Mint State. The finest are 2 in MS65. Approximately
26 to 29 proofs are known.
1876-S
Half Eagle - Rare in all grades, with most heavily
circulated or damaged. The only Mint State example is
a single MS65.
1876-CC
Half Eagle - Lowest CC half eagle mintage. Most examples
are heavily circulated or damaged. The only Mint State
example is a single MS66 piece.
1877
Half Eagle - Second lowest mintage of series. Very
rare in all conditions with fewer than 100 known to exist.
The finest is a single MSPL66. Approximately 13 proofs
are known.
1877-S
Half Eagle - Most grade G to VF. Only 3 have been
certified in Mint State, the finest of which is a single
MS64.
1877-CC
Half Eagle - Most grade XF to AU. Only 2 have been
certified in Mint State, the finest of which is a single
MS62.
1878
Half Eagle - Available in most grades, rare above
MS64. The finest certified are 3 in MS66. Approximately
13 proofs are known.
1878-S
Half Eagle - Common in lower grades; and available
in lower Mint State grades. The finest certified is a
single MS65 example.
1878-CC
Half Eagle - Rare in all grades, most known in F to
VF condition. The finest certified is a single MSPL63
example.
1879
Half Eagle - Available in AU to low Mint State grades.
Rare in gem condition. The finest known is a single MS66
example. Approximately 15 proofs are known.
1879-S
Half Eagle - Common in XF to lower Uncirculated grades.
Usually found well struck often with prooflike surfaces.
Finest certified is a single MS65.
1879-CC
Half Eagle - Usually found in circulated condition.
Rare in Mint State with only 11 certified by both services.
The finest are 2 in MS62.
1880
Half Eagle - Common in most grades. Rare above MS65.
Finest certified are 2 MS66 examples. Approximately 20
proofs are known.
1880-S
Half Eagle - Common in grades up to MS64, but none
certified above MS65, which has 20 examples.
1880-CC
Half Eagle - Usually seen in XF to AU condition. Only
20 have been certified in Mint State with the finest being
a single MS63.
1881
Half Eagle - Highest mintage of the series. Common
in Mint State grades up to MS65. The finest certified
is a single MS67. Look for the 1881/0 overdate of which
more than 200 have been certified. Approximately 21 to
24 proofs are known.
1881-S
Half Eagle - Common in all grades up to MS64. The
finest certified is a single MS67.
1881-CC
Half Eagle - Rare in all conditions; most graded XF
to AU. Only 9 certified in Mint State, the highest of
which is a single MS66.
1882
Half Eagle - Common in lower Mint State grades. Rare
above MS65. The finest certified are 2 in MS66. Approximately
26 to 29 proofs are known.
1882-S
Half Eagle - Common in lower Mint State grades. Rare
above MS65. The finest certified are 3 in MS66.
1882-CC
Half Eagle - Common in AU grades. Rare above MS61.
Finest certified is a single MS63.
1883
Half Eagle - Common in lower Mint State grades. Rare
above MS64. The finest certified is a single example in
MS67. Approximately 26 to 29 proofs are known.
1883-S
Half Eagle - Available in AU to low Mint State grades.
Rare above MS63. The finest certified is a single example
in MS64.
1883-CC
Half Eagle - Usually seen in circulated condition
and available in AU grades. Rare in Mint State. The finest
certified is a single example in MS64.
1884
Half Eagle - Most examples are found in lower grades.
Most certified are from AU55 to MS62. The finest certified
is a single example in MS66. Approximately 26 to 29 proofs
are known.
1884-S
Half Eagle - Most examples are found in lower grades.
Most certified are from AU58 to MS62. The finest certified
are 2 in MS65.
1884-CC
Half Eagle - Most are found in circulated condition
with heavy surface abrasions. Most certified are from
XF45 to AU58. The finest certified is a single example
in MS62.
1885
Half Eagle - Common in most grades up to MS64. Rare
in Gem and above grades. The finest certified are 2 in
MS66. Approximately 26 to 29 proofs are known.
1885-S
Half Eagle - Common in most grades up to MS65. 19
have been certified above MS65, the finest of which are
3 in MS67.
1886
Half Eagle - Common in AU and lower Mint State grades.
Only 5 certified above MS64. The finest certified are
2 in MS66. Approximately 26 to 34 proofs are known.
1886-S
Half Eagle - One of the highest mintages in the series.
Rare above MS65. The finest certified is a single MS66
example.
1887
Half Eagle - Struck only as proofs. Approximately
36 to 39 are known.
1887-S
Half Eagle - Common date from VF to MS63. None certified
above MS65. Ten examples have been certified at that level.
1888
Half Eagle - Scarce in all grades. Rare above MS63.
The finest certified are 2 MS65 examples. Approximately
51 to 59 proofs are known.
1888-S
Half Eagle - Usually found in grades up to MS62. Most
show heavy abrasion or bag marks. The finest certified
are 9 in MS63.
1889
Half Eagle - Low mintage; rare in all grades especially
above MS62. Most examples are heavily circulated and show
abrasions and bag marks. The finest certified is a single
MS67 example. Approximately 26 to 29 proofs are known.
1890
Half Eagle - Very low mintage; rare in all grades.
Most found are in grades AU50 to AU58. The finest certified
is a single MS68 example. Approximately 36 to 49 proofs
are known.
1890-CC
Half Eagle - This popular date is obtainable in grades
XF to MS64. The finest certified is a single MS66 example.
1891
Half Eagle - Most certified examples of this date
range from AU58 to MS63. The finest certified are 3 in
MS65. Approximately 31 to 39 proofs are known.
1891-CC
Half Eagle - This is the most common CC date of the
series. Many examples show heavy abrasions and bag marks.
Available in AU to MS64 grades. The finest certified are
9 in MS65.
1892
Half Eagle - Common date. Most Mint State examples
are in the MS61 to MS64 range. The finest certified are
16 in MS67. Approximately 31 to 39 proofs are known.
1892-O
Half Eagle - Low mintage date that was extensively
circulated. Only 83 pieces have been certified in all
grades by both services. The finest certified is a single
MS64 example.
1892-S
Half Eagle - Most coins of this date are seen in circulated
condition with low Mint State examples available. The
finest certified is a single MS65 piece.
1892-CC
Half Eagle - Most certified pieces of this date range
from XF45 to MS62. The finest certified is a single MS66.
1893
Half Eagle - Common in grades up to MS64. The finest
are 2 examples certified in MS68. Approximately 36 to
49 proofs are known.
1893-O
Half Eagle - Most grade XF to AU58. Many come with
weakly struck centers and heavy abrasions and bag marks.
The finest certified is a single MS65 example.
1893-S
Half Eagle - Often found with bag marks and copper
stains. Available in most grades below MS64. The finest
certified is a single MS66 example.
1893-CC
Half Eagle - Last year of issue from the CC Mint.
Most certified of this date range from XF45 to MS63. The
finest certified are 3 in MS65.
1894
Half Eagle - Common in most grades. Rare above MS64.
The finest certified is a single MS67. Approximately 41
to 59 proofs are known.
1894-O
Half Eagle - Last year of issue from the New Orleans
Mint. Most are found in XF to AU condition. Rare in Mint
State above MS61. The finest certified are 4 in MS63.
1894-S
Half Eagle - Scarce in all grades. Most are heavily
circulated. Rare in all Mint State grades. The finest
certified is a single MS69 example that had been obtained
directly from the Mint and became part of the Eliasberg
collection.
1895
Half Eagle - Common date that is available in grades
up to MS65. The finest certified are 3 in MS67. Approximately
46 to 54 proofs are known.
1895-S
Half Eagle - Most are found in XF to AU condition.
Mint State examples are rare. The finest certified are
3 in MS66 condition.
1896
Half Eagle - Available in lower Mint State grades.
The finest certified is a single MS66 example. Approximately
51 to 74 proofs are known.
1896-S
Half Eagle - Most are found in XF to AU condition
with lower Mint State also available. The finest certified
is a single MS67 example.
1897
Half Eagle - Common in most grades. Rare above MS65.
The finest certified are 9 in MS66. Approximately 51 to
74 proofs are known.
1897-S
Half Eagle - Scarce in most conditions, but available
in grades up to MS62. The finest certified is a single
MS69 example that was part of the Eliasberg collection.
1898
Half Eagle - Common in most grades up to MS64. Rare
in Gem and above. The finest certified are 2 in MS67.
Approximately 46 to 54 proofs are known.
1898-S
Half Eagle - Scarce above MS64. The finest certified
are 2 in MS68. These probably are a single coin resubmitted
that was purchased directly from the Mint and became part
of the Eliasberg collection.
1899
Half Eagle - Common date which is available up to
MS66. The finest certified is a single MS68 example. There
is also an 1899/99 overdate variety. Approximately 61
to 74 proofs are known.
1899-S
Half Eagle - Available up to MS64. Rare in gem and
above condition. The finest certified is a single MS69
example that was purchased directly from the Mint and
became part of the Eliasberg collection.
1900
Half Eagle - Common date that is popular as first
year of the new century. Rare above MS65. The finest certified
are 2 examples in MS68, which may represent a single con
that was resubmitted. Most common proof of the series.
Approximately 76 to 99 are known.
1900-S
Half Eagle - Scarce in all grades. Rare above MS64.
The finest certified are 2 examples in MS68, which may
represent a single con that was resubmitted. It was purchased
directly from the Mint and became part of the Eliasberg
collection.
1901
Half Eagle - Common in all grades up to MS65. The
finest certified are 15 in MS67. Also found with a 19/19
overdate. Approximately 51 to 59 proofs are known.
1901-S
Half Eagle - Most common date of the series. Rare
above MS66. The finest certified is a single MS68. Found
with the final 1 of the date over a faint 0. Also found
with an S/S mintmark.
1902
Half Eagle - Most certified examples fall into the
AU58 to MS64 range. The finest certified are 3 in MS67.
Approximately 76 to 99 proofs are known.
1902-S
Half Eagle - Type coin that is common in most grades.
Most have strong strikes. Rare above MS66. The finest
certified is a single MS69 example.
1903
Half Eagle - Usually well struck, sometimes with copper
stains. Rare above MS64. The finest certified are 6 in
MS67. 119 proofs have been certified in all grades by
both services.
1903-S
Half Eagle - Type coin that is common in most grades.
Rare above MS66. The finest certified are 8 in MS67.
1904
Half Eagle - Type coin that is common in most grades.
Rare above MS66. The finest certified is a single example
in MS68. Approximately 51 to 74 proofs are known 1904
Half Eagle $5 Liberty NGC PF67
1904-S
Half Eagle - Most are found in XF to AU condition.
Mint State examples above MS62 are rare. The finest certified
are 2 in MS67.
1905
Half Eagle - Usually strongly impressed but often
with copper stains. Easily available in grades below MS65.
The finest certified is a single MS68 example. Approximately
76 to 99 proofs are known.
1905-S
Half Eagle - Scarce in all grades and rare in MS65
and above. The finest certified is a single MS67 example.
Also seen with an S/S mintmark.
1906
Half Eagle - Common in most grades. Rare above MS65.
The finest certified are 10 in MS67. Also seen with the
overdate 1906/6. Approximately 61 to 74 proofs are known.
1906-D
Half Eagle - One of two Denver Mint issues in the
series. Common in grades up to MS64. The finest certified
is a single MS67.
1906-S
Half Eagle - Common in most grades. Rare above MS64.
The finest certified is a single MS68.
1907
Half Eagle - Common in most grades. Rare above MS65.
The finest certified are 3 in MS68. Approximately 61 to
74 proofs are known.
1907-D
Half Eagle - One of two Denver Mint issues in the
series. Common in most grades. Rare above MS65. The finest
certified is a single example in MS68.
1908
Half Eagle - Common in most grades. Rare above MS66.
The finest certified are 2 in MS68. No proofs were issued
for this type.