1884-CC $5 (1884-CC Half Eagle) NGC AU55. This western branch mint 1884-CC Half Eagle has bright mint luster within its protected areas. The coin is well struck with full details on the highest points of Libertys hair, the centers of the stars, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. The surfaces are extremely clean for the grade and contribute to the premium quality look of this piece, which could have easily graded a few points higher. Sufficient separation exists in the lines of the top of the coronet and Libertys hair to confirm the grade.

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 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 (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.)
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.