1839 Half Eagle (1839 $5) NGC AU53. This half eagle shows light obverse toning with a mixture of greens, red, and orange flecks. The bottom right field is darker than the top. The reverse continues the same mixture of colors with lighter toning on the upper third. Some mint luster shows at the top of Libertys head and at her hair under the coronet. The reverse shows luster especially on the eagles feathers. There are several contact marks on Libertys cheek, jaw, and neck as well as the upper right field. The reverse shows some slight die clash marks as well as two scratches, one above the eagles right wing and one above the olive branch. There is a small amount of wear on the highest points of the design, which probably accounts for the circulated grade.

The design of this coin is one of Christian Gobrechts first as Assistant Engraver, and it is the first year of a very enduring design type, the Coronet Head. It replaced the Reich-Kneass Classic Head of the prior years. In addition to a new head of Liberty, the coins reverse uses the word five instead of the numeral in the denomination. Many half eagles of this period were used for jewelry and are seen with traces of solder removal.