Half Eagle Five Dollar Gold Pieces
FIVE DOLLAR GOLD – $5 DENOMINATION
The half eagle was the first gold coin actually struck for the United States. The $5.00 piece was authorized to be coined by the Act of April 2, 1792, and the first type weighed 135 grains, 916 2/3 fine. The Act of June 28, 1834 changed the weight to 129 grains, 899.225 fine. Fineness became .900 by the Act of January 18, 1837.
There are many varieties among the early dates caused by changes in the number of stars, style of eagle, overdates, and differences in the size of the figures in the dates. Those dated prior to 1807 do not bear any mark of value. The 1822 half eagle is considered the most valuable regular issue coin of the entire United States series. Proofs of some dates prior to 1855 are know to exist, and all are rare. Commemorative and Bullion $5 coins have been made at West Point since 1986 and 1994 respectively, thus this is the only U.S. denomination made at each of the eight mints.
This type was struck from mid-1795 to early 1798, when the small eagle reverse was changed to the large or “heraldic” eagle. Note that the 1795 and 1797 dates exist for both types, but the heraldic reverses of these dates were probably struck under emergency conditions in late 1798.
Designer: Robert Scot Weight; 8.75 grams Composition: .9167 gold, .0833 silver and copper, approx. Diameter: 25mm Reeded edge
Standards same as previous issue.
Designer: John Reich. Standards same as previous issue.
Standards same as previous issue. Diameter approx. 26.5mm.
The half eagles dated 1829 (small date) through 1834 are smaller in diameter than the earlier pieces. They also have smaller letters, dates and stars.
Standards as before. Modified design by William Kneass. Diameter 23.8mm.
As on the quarter eagle of 1834, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM was omitted from the new, reduced size of the half eagle in 1834, to distinguish the old coins which had become worth more than face value.
Designer; William Kneass Weight: 8.36 grams Composition: .8992 gold, .1008 silver and copper, changed to .900 gold in 1837 Diameter: 22.5 mm Reeded edge Mints: Philadelphia, Charlotte and Dahlonega
Designer: Christian Gobrecht Weight: 8.359 grams Composition: .900 gold, .100 copper Diameter: (1839-1840) 22.5mm. (1840-1929) 21.6mm Reeded edge Net weight: .24187 oz. pure gold
Designer: Christian Gobrecht Weight: 8.359 grams Composition: .900 gold, .100 copper Diameter: 21.6mm Reeded edge Mints: Philadelphia, Carson City, Denver, New Orleans, San Francisco Net weight: .24187 oz. pure gold
This Indian type half-eagle conforms to the quarter eagle of the same date. The sunken (incuse) designs and lettering make these two series unique in our United States coinage.
Designer: Bela Lyon Pratt Weight: 8.359 grams Composition: .900 gold, .100 copper Diameter: 21.6 mm Reeded edge Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, New Orleans and San Francisco Net weight: .24187 oz. pure gold