null
Categories

$5 Gold Coins

Shop All $5 Gold Coins

$5 Gold Coins - Pre-1933 Gold Coins

$5 gold coins, also known as Liberty Half Eagles, were coins issued by the United States Mint that carried a face value of $5. These coins were first struck in 1795 and continued in circulation until 1929. They were primarily made of gold, with a composition of 90% gold, 6% copper, and 4% silver, making them 22-karat gold. These coins are notable for their historical significance, beautiful designs, and their role in U.S. currency during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

There are two main types of $5 gold coins:

  1. Liberty Head (1839-1908): The classic design of the Liberty Half Eagle, with a portrait of Lady Liberty on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse. This series was produced in both "No Motto" (1839–1865) and "With Motto" (1866–1908) varieties, reflecting changes in the inscription on the reverse.

  2. Indian Head (1908-1929): The Indian Head design, introduced in 1908, features a Native American chief wearing a headdress on the obverse, with a majestic eagle on the reverse. The Indian Head $5 gold coin is often favored by collectors for its striking design and was minted until the coinage stopped in 1929 due to the Great Depression.

These coins were widely used in commerce during their production years and are still highly sought after today for their gold content, aesthetic value, and numismatic significance. The value of these coins, aside from their gold content, often depends on their rarity, condition, and specific year of minting.

$5 Indian Half Eagle

The $5 Indian Half Eagle was a gold coin minted by the United States Mint between 1908 and 1929. Designed by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the coin was part of President Theodore Roosevelt's initiative to redesign American coinage.

The obverse of the coin features a Native American wearing a headdress, with the word "LIBERTY" inscribed above and the year of minting below. On the reverse, a soaring bald eagle is depicted, surrounded by the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the denomination "FIVE DOLLARS."

A distinctive feature of the $5 Indian Half Eagle is its incuse design, where the image elements are recessed into the coin’s surface rather than raised. This design choice, along with the coin's raised edge, was intended to preserve the details and prolong the coin's lifespan by reducing wear.

Produced at several U.S. Mint facilities, including Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, the $5 Indian Half Eagle was minted in relatively low quantities, with some years having fewer than 10,000 coins struck.

Today, the $5 Indian Half Eagle is highly regarded by collectors for its historical value and limited mintage, with some specimens commanding significant premiums due to their rarity and appeal.

$5 Liberty Half Eagles

The $5 Liberty Half Eagle was minted by the United States Mint from 1839 to 1908, designed by Christian Gobrecht. This coin exists in two distinct types, both highly valued by collectors and numismatists: the rare "No Motto" version (struck from 1839 to 1865) and the "With Motto" version (minted from 1866 to 1908).

As a smaller denomination, the Liberty Half Eagle circulated extensively across the United States. Remarkably, it holds the distinction of being the only U.S. coin produced at all seven mint locations: Philadelphia, Dahlonega, Charlotte, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City, and Denver. These coins have endured through the years, becoming treasured pieces of American history.

U.S. Gold Coins: $5 Gold Coins FAQs

The $5 gold coin, commonly known as the "Half Eagle," is one of the longest-running denominations of U.S. gold coinage. It was produced by the United States Mint from 1795 to 1929.
The $5 gold coin, known as the "Half Eagle," was produced at seven U.S. Mint facilities over its history.

Philadelphia Mint (P or no mintmark): The primary mint facility, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, produced Half Eagles for much of the coin's production history.

Charlotte Mint (C mintmark): Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this mint produced Half Eagles from 1838 to 1861. It primarily minted gold coins using gold sourced from the southern states.

Dahlonega Mint (D mintmark): Situated in Dahlonega, Georgia, this mint produced Half Eagles from 1838 to 1861, using locally sourced gold.

New Orleans Mint (O mintmark): Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this mint produced Half Eagles intermittently from 1839 to 1909.

San Francisco Mint (S mintmark): Situated in San Francisco, California, this mint began operations in 1854 and produced Half Eagles in various years from its inception until 1929.

Carson City Mint (CC mintmark): Located in Carson City, Nevada, this mint produced Half Eagles from 1870 to 1893.

Denver Mint (D mintmark): Located in Denver, Colorado, this mint produced Half Eagles starting in the early 20th century, specifically from 1906 to 1929.

The Half Eagle underwent several design changes during its production, resulting in different types:

Capped Bust to Right, Small Eagle (1795-1798): This was the initial design of the Half Eagle.

Capped Bust to Right, Heraldic Eagle (1795-1807): This design featured a larger, more heraldic eagle on the reverse.

Capped Bust to Left (1807-1812): A design change had Liberty facing left.

Capped Head to Left (1813-1834): This design featured a smaller Liberty head facing left.

Classic Head (1834-1838): This design showcased Liberty with a headband inscribed with "LIBERTY."

Liberty Head (No Motto) (1839-1866): This design depicted Liberty wearing a coronet with "LIBERTY" inscribed on it, with no motto above the eagle on the reverse.

Liberty Head (With Motto) (1866-1908): Similar to the previous design but with the addition of the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" above the eagle on the reverse.

Indian Head (1908-1929): This design, introduced in 1908, showcased a left-facing Native American head on the obverse and a standing eagle on the reverse.

Another name for the $5 gold coin is the "Half Eagle".