1869-S $5 (1869-S Half Eagle) NGC AU53. Wonderfully clean surfaces are seen on this Western branch mint 1869-S Half Eagle. In fact the surfaces are so good that the coin could have easily been graded a couple of points higher. Subdued mint luster is seen in protected areas on both sides of the coin. The strike is above average with sharp detail on most of the obverse stars, which is unusual for this issue because it is usually found weakly struck and in lower grades.

The Liberty Head (Motto on Reverse) half eagle was minted from 1866 to 1908. It was designed by Christian Gobrecht and showed 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 reverse of the coin 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, and the mintmark is between the denomination and the eagle. 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 (Motto on Reverse) half eagle was created as a result of this mandate. (All silver coins larger than a dime also had the motto added.)
The San Francisco issues of the 1860’s are usually heavily worn. This date is rare in higher grades. In its population report, NGC shows 8 in AU55 with 27 better.