1861 $5 (1861 Half Eagle) NGC XF45. Civil War Half Eagle. This Civil War dated 1861 Half Eagle was sharply struck. The centers of the stars, high points of the hair, the eagle’s neck, and the lower feathers are all fully detailed. The grade of XF45 is appropriate because we see the hair down Liberty’s neck and most of the lines of the coronet. There is also sufficient separation in the lines of hair above the ear.

When Mint Engraver William Kneass was unable to resume his duties after a debilitating stroke, Christian Gobrecht was asked to do his work, which included making a new half eagle that would be uniform with the eagle. The Liberty Head (No Motto on Reverse) half eagle was minted from 1839 to 1866.

With a mintage of 688,084, a very low output by modern standards, the 1861 half eagle is the most common date of the No Motto type. However, because it is a Civil War date, it is also very much in demand and very popular.