Among the most famous Coronet Half Quarter Eagles is the 1848 “CAL.” specimen. The coin was minted from gold shipped from California during the gold strike. On the reverse of the coin, the letters “CAL.” were counter stamped above the eagle. There were only 1389 “CAL” Coronet Half Quarter Eagles that were produced.

Coronet Head Half Eagle Design

The Coronet Head Half Eagle’s design was an updated version of the “Classic Head”, designed by John Reich. Lady Liberty is depicted with her head turned to the left, wearing a tiara with the inscription “Liberty” inscribed along the side. Liberty is portrayed with more refined features than in earlier editions. Her hair is tied back with a string of pearls, making her appear more elegant. Thirteen stars encircle the design, with the year prominently displayed in the bottom center.

The reverse displays the John Reich Eagle, found on many U.S. coins. The Mint marks are located beneath the engraved eagle that is perched on an olive branch with outstretched wings. In the left claw, the eagle holds three arrows. A Union shield is displayed on the eagle’s breast with the inscription United States of America. The denomination of the coin is displayed on the bottom surrounded by a beaded border.

Motto

During the period of the Civil Wars the nation experienced a religious revival. Americans across the nation formed prayer meetings to call on God during the difficult times of the war. This led to the inclusion of the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the 1864 two-cent piece. In 1865, Congress mandated that the motto was to be placed on every coin that could accommodate the lettering.

The motto, ” IN GOD WE TRUST” first appeared on the gold half eagle, in 1866. The motto was placed on the reverse of the coin, where it was written across a scroll, positioned over the head of the eagle. This was later added to all forms of U.S. currency.

In the years that followed the motto’s debut on the Coronet Half Eagle, the suspension regarding specie payments that began during the Civil War carried on, diminishing the demand for large mints producing gold coins. As a result, the Half eagles were produced in limited quantities. After the specie payments returned in 1878, the half eagles were an opportune coin to redeem the excessive amount of greenbacks that were still in circulation. By 1880, more than 51,500,000 Coronet Head Half Eagle were produced, including the motto.

Grading

When it comes to grading this series, it is important to know how to look for signs of wear. The first place to check is on Lady Liberty, between her brow and the coronet. Another area to closely examine are Liberty’s strands of hair and ringlets along the neckline. On the reverse, collectors should check the claws, neck and wing tips of the eagle. Most collectors use one of the four top grading services, prior to investing in key date Coronet Quarter Eagles.

History of the Liberty Cap Eagle

When people began coming to America, the standard trading coins came with them from all different countries. These remained the coins of choice until The Mint Act of 1792 established the U.S. standard of coinage. The first Liberty Cap Eagle was minted in 1795 but was not the first coin minted in the new system. It was designed by Robert Scot who was the chief engraver. The national bird, an eagle with its wings wide spread, was chosen for the reverse side of the 1795 coin. The original production included just 13,344 eagles of this type between the dates of 1795 and 1797. That is one of the reasons the 1795 Liberty Cap Eagle is so rare. Originally this coin was composed of 92% gold and 8% silver and copper and weighed 17.5 grams.

Grading of Coins

The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation is a very valuable third-party grading service that is highly esteemed by both collectors and traders. The rarity of a coin is easily established, but the condition of the coin is harder to determine. The original grading scale was very simple. It consisted of three variables: “good” if the surface was worn, but the details were still distinguishable; “fine” if details were less worn and a little of the mint luster was still showing; and, “uncirculated” if the coin appeared to be in nearly as fine a shape as it was when it left the mint. Dr. William Sheldon later developed the Sheldon Scale that runs from 1 to 70 in a much finer determination of the condition of coins. The top grading is 60-70 and indicates mint state (MS). Coins graded from 50-59 are described as about uncirculated (AU).

Value of the 1795 Liberty Cap Eagle

If this coin has been graded by NGC with a 60 designation, the base price presently is $123,500. If the grading is 64 it is at $552,500 and if 65, it is valued at $1,105,000. It is easy to tell why grading is so important. It is listed as one of the top 10 gainers in value over the last 5 years by Professional Coin Grading Service at grades 65 and 66. The 1795 graded 66 has increased 100% over the last five years and today’s price on that web site is $1,500,000. The same coin graded 35 has decreased in value over the last five years and is now worth $44,000. Even the gold content of the coins has ballooned over the last year. Gold futures are presently hovering around $1780 per ounce on the commodities market. Many people are not interested in dealing with commodities markets, but they are potential buyers of rare gold coins.

Ways to Preserve and Clean a Coin

One of the safe ways to preserve a coin is to place it in an airtight container. Cleaning a coin must be handled with care to avoid scratching the surface and is best done with a soft toothbrush and a recommended cleaner. Purchasing a cleaning product from a company that specializes in coin cleaning supplies is ideal. One handy product for removing surface dirt is MS70. Be sure to wear protective gloves as this solution may dry your hands.

History:

The history of the Liberty Cap Half Eagle starts with the original design made by John Reich. After the original draped head design of the original Liberty gold coins, John Reich made alterations to the almost turban style of Lady Liberty’s headgear so that it instead resembled a cap.

The design for the Capped Bust Half Eagle was made and struck in 1807. The design continued from 1807 to 1834, but had two other designers involved in the later coin production. Robert Scott copied Reich’s original design in 1818 and the coins made by Robert Scott continued until 1829, when William Kneass copied the design again. The copied design was finally replaced with a new design in 1834.

While several of the coins were minted in the 27 years the Capped Bust Half Eagle was in production, most of the coins were shipped abroad to Europe, where the coins were melted down for the gold content. The main problem with the coin was that the 91.76 percent gold resulted in an undervalued $5 coin. As such, many of the coins were destroyed.

Coin Design:

The design of the coin made by John Reich and later copied made changes from the original Draped Lady Liberty design.

The obverse side of the coin displays the bust of Lady Liberty looking toward the right side. The cap on her head allows her hair to fall out of the bottom and flow down the back of her neck. Liberty is written on the bottom ribbon on the cap. Lady Liberty is surrounded by 13 stars with seven sitting in front of her face on the left side of the coin and six behind her head sitting on the right side of the coin. The date the coin was minted is stamped under Lady Liberty’s bust.

The reverse side of the coin displays an eagle looking to the right who is spreading his wings and clutching an olive branch in the right talon and arrows in the left talon. On the eagle’s breast, a shield featuring the stars and stripes protects him. Under the feet of the eagle is the term “5D.” to show the value of the half eagle. Surrounding the outside of the coin and the eagle are the words “United States of America.” A ribbon sits directly below “States of” at the top of the coin and features the words “E Pluribus Unum.”

Buying the Coin:

The Cap Liberty Half Eagle coin is a rare coin that has very few surviving coins still available. Many of the coins were melted down, resulting in very few surviving coins despite the large number of coins produced during the 27 years it was minted.

The rarest year for the Cap Liberty Half Eagle gold coin is 1815, when only 635 coins were struck. This particularly year only has around 10 to 20 coins still in existence.

The price of the coin varies depending on the year and rarity. The rare coins, like the 1815 coin, might occasionally come to auction, but the price will rise quickly due to the rarity. The years that are less rare are also generally available at auctions, but the price is less for a coin that is less rare.

References:

U.S. Rare Coin Investments: Capped Bust Half Eagle
Coin Auctions Help: Capped Bust Half Eagle

The obverse displays Lady Liberty donning a head turban which was in vogue among women during the latter part of the 18th century. For some time, the turban was inaccurately considered, by several experts, to be the liberty cap originating in ancient Rome, like most other United States coinage. The reverse design was the first to display an eagle featuring a shield across its chest.

Fewer than 20,000 Cap Head Quarter Eagles were actually minted. Growing hostility between Europeans and Americans during the late 1790s and early 1800s resulted in the increase of European gold prices. Bullion dealers further exploited this state of affairs by acquiring American gold coinage in exchange for comparatively cheap Mexican silver. These dealers exported the coins to Europe and melted them for a substantial profit, as their value in gold far exceeded their face value. The threat of war limited the production of all U.S. gold coins. As a result, the eagle quarters were discontinued, and the half eagle mintage were made exclusively for banks, until eventually ceasing in 1808.

New Design For Quarter Eagle

In 1808, a new Quarter Eagle, designed by a German engraver Robert Reich, was released. This updated design depicted Liberty facing left, wearing a cap with “liberty” written across the trim . The eagle featured on the coin was a bit more realistic than the earlier design. The wings were extended and it sat on top of an olive branch, clutching a set of arrows. Reich’s reverse design remained on U.S. coinage for the next one hundred years.

The new design survived for quite some time in other U.S. coinage, but the Capped Quarter Eagle, was soon discontinued after only one year as the result of profiteering by bullion dealers. Only one set of 1808 die casts was made, many numismatists to believe the original was damaged after the 2710 pieces were produced.

Redesign of Quarter Eagle

In 1821, this coin resurfaced, with another new design created by Robert Scot after Reich resigned from the mint. Scot’s new design for the Capped Head to Left coin was really just a modified version of Reich’s 1808 design. Many believed Scot, with failing sight, had become too old to completely redesign the coin. One of the most obvious differences was in size, as the new design was smaller in diameter. The new Capped Head to the Left quarter was minted in very limited amounts. This coin never fully served its purpose due to constantly being exported overseas and melted down for its gold content.

Collectors Items

The Liberty Cap Quarter Eagle was rare in its time and even rarer to find now. The Early Quarter Eagles, which date from 1796 to 1834 are worth a substantial amount of money and are prized collector items. According to past value trends, collectors of these extremely rare coins can expect a highly profitable return on their investment, should they opt to sell.

Collectors that have the opportunity to buy Early Quarter Eagles must be certain the coin is certified by a top grading service. These rare coins are often subject to counterfeits. Grading is also essential as only a few points on the 70 point grading scale many end up costing a collector a significant amount of money. New collectors can use the following links to determine the value of these coins:

Sources:

US Coin Values Advisor
NG Coin

Features of the coin

The weight of the $ 1 gold coin was 4.359 grams, and it was made of 90% gold and 10% copper as the material. The diameter of the coin was 21.6mm. The head gold coins were full of various designs, this was designed by famous- sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt, This was to make history in the U.S. The designs on this coin and the writings were sunken (incuse) into the gold surface of the coin.

On the top part of the coin there is a design of the Native American (red Indians) warriors face, with his full war attire on the head, he adorns a headdress made of feather and puts on a ring on the ear. The coin too has thirteen in scripted stars in total, with six stars on the left hand side and seven stars on the right side. The top part of the coin has also the words liberty written in capital letters at the far top of the coin and the year 1908 to 1929 minted on the coin depending on the year of manufacture written at the bottom part of the coin. The reverse side of the coin was in scripted with a feathered eagle. These features made the coin distinguishable from other form of medieval currency, it’s gold worth made it a good medium of exchange, the introduction of the Indian gold coin an almost accurate measure of goods worth as compared to batter trade, where individuals could exchange goods for other goods.

The designs

One would wonder why the unique designs on the coin; the major reason of having the designs and the inscriptions on the coin was to aid in the durability of the coin. The incused designs on the coin reduced the wear and tear of the coin, and also aided in avoiding regular replacement of the coin by the government. And since history only the two coins are the only ones that have been incused and are unique. And to date most of them collected by the coins collectors still look new due to the durability nature.

The advantages

The gold coin apart from its uniqueness came with its advantages; it was a unique kind of coin and therefore could not be forged by any individual thus maintaining its worth. With its introduction, the precious metal led to the rise of the price of gold and made it profitable when they were melted to form the coins making gold to sell at high prices also made gold mining a common form of trade. The value of the coin also went up at that time due to its fascinating nature and uniqueness.

Description

The Indian Head is done in classic style. The obverse side displays an eagle. Before 1912, the circumference of the coin has forty-six raised stars, one for each state. From 1912 on, two stars were added for Arizona and New Mexico.

How the Design Was Chosen

The design had been a struggle between the Chief Engraver of the US Mint, Charles Barber and the famous artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who had an ally in the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Barber and Saint-Gardens had first butted heads years before in 1892 as judges during a US design competition for dimes, quarters and half-dollars — they had avoided each other since then.

Theodore Roosevelt wanted a design for the $10 gold coin different than what Barber had been doing for years and believed in the ability and artistic vision of Saint-Gaudens to create a coin reminiscent of the ancient coins of Rome and Greece. Roosevelt prevailed and Augustus Saint-Gaudens was the one chosen to design the new $10 coin. The coin that emerged for circulation in 1907 from Saint-Gaudens design was not the final version, however — the US Congress added the words IN GOD WE TRUST in 1908.

Condition Problems

Condition of the $10 Indian Head gold coin can be a problem. The eagle head on the obverse is high enough relief that scratches and marks are a given with almost any circulation of the coin, even if the coin is only stacked in bags. Two sets of circumstances, however, push some examples of the $10 Indian head gold coin to the highest possible value. First, European coin collectors hoarded these coins early and many uncirculated instances have only recently been revealed. Second, during the first few years of the series, many of the $10 Indian Head gold coins were never circulated, the reason being the uncertainty in the US Mint about the high relief on the obverse, another example of which had caused problems with the US Double Eagles.

Mintage and Prices

The 1907 initial mintage was 239,406. The prices today are about $65 for a VF-20, $815 for a MS-60 and $10,000 for an MS-65. Currently, there are 189 known 1907 $10 Indian head gold coins in MS-65 condition.

Last Year of Mintage

Because of the Gold Recall Order in 1933, that year was the last issuance of the $10 Indian Head gold coin. The 1933 coin was available before the order went into effect, but coins minted at the time of the order were simply melted down by the US Mint. So, circulated 1933 $10 Indian Gold coins do exist, but not in any great number. An average collector will likely not encounter a 1933 gold coin from the Indian head series — a good start would be the ones minted before 1916.

Design

James B. Longacre designed the Liberty Head Double Eagle coin. The obverse features the head of a Lady Liberty, shown from her left side, her curly hair flowing down her neck. Her head is adorned with a headband that reads the word “Liberty.” Stars line the edge of the obverse, with the year the coin was minted at the bottom. The reverse features a bald eagle with outstretched wings. In front of the eagle is a shield adorned by banners that read, “E Pluribus Unum.” Sun rays extend behind the eagle, surrounding the words “In God We Trust.” The words “United States of America” circle the edge of the reverse of the coin. On 1849 through 1876 coins, the words “Twenty D.” appear on the reverse, while the words “Twenty Dollars” appear on the reverse of the coins minted from 1877 through 1907.

Rare Dates

The rarest date of the Liberty Head Double Eagles is the 1849 coin, as there were only two proof coins made that year. The only one of the coins that the whereabouts are known is on display at the Smithsonian. The other 1849 Liberty Head Double Eagle was sold as part of the estate of former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, William M. Meredith, who died in 1873, and its whereabouts have since been unknown.

Rare dates that are available for collectors of the Liberty Head Double Eagle include the 1854-O, 1856-O, 1859-O, 1860-O, 1870-CC, 1879-O, 1882, 1885, and 1886.

Within the rare dates of Liberty Head Double Eagle coins, there are some rare varieties as well. The 1853 coin features a 1853 over 2 over-date variety, in which the 3 appears to be printed over a 2. The 1854 comes in small or large date varieties, while the 1861 and 1861-S can be found with a different reverse, designed by Anthony Pacquet. The 1873 Liberty Head Double Eagle can be found with either a open or closed 3 in the date on the obverse.

Until 1866, the Liberty Head Double Eagle coins did not include the words “In God We Trust” in the reverse. There were only 12,000 of these “No Motto” varieties minted in 1866, and only at the San Francisco mint, so the 1866-S No Motto variety of Liberty Head Double Eagle is very rare and valuable.

Composition and Bullion Value

The Liberty Head Double Eagle coin weighs 33.436 grams and measures 34 millimeters in diameter. Its metal composition is 90 percent gold and 10 percent other metals, making its bullion value around the spot price of one troy ounce of gold.

References:

WikiCoins
Coin Facts

History of the coins

Coins have come a long way dating back to June 1795. During that year, David Rittenhouse took the place of Henry Desaussure as the mint director. His main objective was to get rid of the ordinary gold coins replacing them with more improved designs of the gold coins. Before getting replaced, Rittenhouse had already given orders to Robert scot, his chief engraver, who had already started working on the dies and by the end of July 1795, he managed to deliver close to 744 half eagles, which were the first gold coins ever fashioned by the US mint.
The new design by scot was classic. He managed to portray autonomy on the gold coins. His style closely resembled the roman style of the Hellenistic Greek goddess. This incorporated hair readjusted and a large restraint. The bust was swathed such that it did not in any way offend the modern eye with the start of the 19th century. The converse was enthused with the first century Rome.

The designated look of the coins

The coin has a very unique look. On the front is an eagle with its wings outspread. In its beak, it is holding a laurel and in its claws a palm branch. The conventional eagle, often referred to as the “chicken eagle’’. Along the eagle, are some captions of liberty and the United States of America. There is no statement of value or any other form of denomination. That totals up the designated look of the gold coins that were used during the 18th century.

From the year 1795 all through to the year 1798, approximately only 18, 512 decorated busts were managed to be manufactured. Nevertheless, most of the production did not discharge the great melt downs that smashed the bulk of the United States gold coinage cast before the beginning of 1834.

From the year 1796, all the coins manufactured since then were over dates. The coins of the 1795/6 are very hard to locate. The half eagles come in two different kinds. The first models are of fifteen stars and the other model has sixteen visible stars. The strategic of the sequence began with the start of the year 1798. There are only 7 specimens which can be traced. They are one of the most erratic half eagles in the history of coins. These types of coins have prohibited amassers from endeavoring sets of the different designs.

Coronate head half eagle

This type of gold coin was designed and engraved by the famous designer Christian Gobrecht. The diameter of the coin is approximately 21.66mm. With a mass of 8.36 grams, it is made from a metal composition of 90% gold and 10% copper. They were the best quality coins of all time. On its head, was engraved a statue of liberty surrounded by visible stars. At its tail, there stood an eagle with outspread wings and a palm branch at its claws.

The Sculptor, Bela Lyon Pratt

Bela Lyon Pratt, the designer, was born in 1867 in Connecticut, the grandson of the founder of the first conservatory for music located in New England. He was raised with music and art, and at the age of 5, showed an inclination towards sculpture, modeling available beeswax. He grew up to become a renown sculptor and creator of medals, and in October of 1908 was approached, at the Symphony, by Dr. Sturgis Bigelow, who asked him to create the first of the Indian Head coins. Pratt was also instrumental in the formation of The Boston School of Art.

Coin Design

It is believed that Pratt used the Chief Hollow Horn Bear of the Sioux, as the model for the Indian Head. Beginning with a clay sketch, the coin was then cast in gold. It was commissioned by William Sturgis Bigelow for the then President Theodore Roosevelt. An interesting fact about the coin is that it is debossed, or done with a technique called incuse relief, with the image lower than the surrounding metal. One one side is the Indian Head with headdress surrounded by thirteen stars and the word, Liberty: On the other side is the eagle, with United States of America above, and the denomination of Five Dollars below the eagle. When submitted to President Roosevelt, it was swiftly approved, as the design was very unique and the sunken decoration was not only creative, it made the stacking of coins easier. Originally costing $300 to produce, and minted in Denver and San Francisco, an example of the 1908 gold coin can now be found at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Production Stops

The Indian Head Half Eagle had a production run of 1908 to 1916. However, during World War I production was stopped, and it began again in 1929, which was its last year.

Availability

One can find a range of Indian Head Half Eagles on Ebay with years such as 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1915. An uncirculated coin from 1915 , NGC PF65+, can be found at Tom’s Collectibles, and with its gold value, it is a very rare coin. It is newly on the market and is being sold by Goldcoast Coin Exhange. Another location to find an Indian Head Half Eagle is Goldline, with coins containing a composition of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper. Gold content is listed at 0.24187 oz. The range of prices of this coin suggests the importance of its year and other factors, as a 1911 Indian Head Half Eagle, condition listed as circulated, was being bid at an online auction at an affordable price. It was put online by a daughter, who claimed she found it in her elderly mother’s bureau drawer, where it sat for 50 years, and who is not a collector.

The Indian Head Half Eagle is an unusual coin, partly because of the innovative technique used to produce it, and partly because it is a beautiful example of a historic gold coin.

History

The Classic Head half eagle was initially minted to combat a disturbing trend that arose in the early 1830s. People were selling gold coins for cash overseas because their gold content was worth more than their face value. The Coinage Act of 1972 had fixed the ratio of silver to gold at 15:1 in the United States. However, due to wars and trade issues with China, the ratio in Europe rose to 16:1. People made large sums of money by trading each $5 gold coin for about $5.25 in silver and pocketing the difference.

The U.S. government happened to have significant gold reserves at the time from mining in the hills of North Carolina and Georgia, so it decided to release new Half Eagle coins into the market. The government reduced the coin’s ratio of gold to copper from 92:8 to 90:10 to combat the growing trend. It also reduced the coin’s diameter from 25 mm to 22.5 mm. This would be the most substantial change made to the Half Eagle in its 134 years of use from 1795 to 1929.

Appearance

The Classic Head Half Eagle was designed by Engraver William Kneass. The reverse of the coin contained the same spread-winged eagle seen on many other gold coins of the early 1800s, though notably the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM” were removed in order to help the public distinguish the new coins from the old. It clutches an olive branch in one claw and three arrows in the other, and its breast is covered by a shield. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” are printed along the top rim of the reverse face, and the coin’s denomination of “5 D.” is engraved at the bottom.

On the obverse side, Kneass designed the head of Lady Liberty to have a more youthful, classic appearance. Her face appears skinnier, and she has a sharper, narrower nose. Her head is surrounded by flowing curls, and her headband is emblazoned with the word “LIBERTY.” Thirteen six-point stars, representing the original thirteen colonies, line the top rim of the obverse face. The coin’s mint year is engraved at the bottom.

Types

The Classic Head Half Eagle was minted between 1834 and 1838. Two varieties exist of the 1834 mint; three exist of the 1838 mint. The other years have just one type each. The coin was minted in Philadelphia between 1834 and 1837. In 1838, some Classic Head $5 coins were minted in Dahlonega and some in Charlotte. These are marked with a C or D above the date.

The 1834 coin had a rare Crosslet 4 issue, meaning that about 7% of these Half Eagles had a wider horizontal line on the 4 of the date. These are understandably worth more than the Plain 4 issue, which accounts for about 93% of 1834 Classic Head Half Eagles.

Prices

Depending on the condition of your coin, it may be worth quite a bit of money. Numismatists judge coins on a scale of G, or Good to MS, or Mint State. Read here for helpful information about numismatic coin grading. These prices represent a range from G through MS60, the lowest grade level for a mint state coin.

1834 Plain 4 – $480 – $4560
1834 Crosslet 4 – $750 – $24,380
1835 – $480 – $4750
1836 – $480 – $4750
1837 – $480 – $4810
1838 – $480 – $4750
1838 C – $1310 – $44,380
1838 D – $920 – $28,130

Sources:

Coin Link
Wiki Coins
Coin Week

The Name and the Design

Saint-Gaudens designed the obverse with a bust view of Lady Liberty and the Eagle was placed on the reverse. Roosevelt urged the artist to add a Native American war bonnet to the image of Liberty, resulting in the “Indian Head Eagle” nickname for this coin. The reverse features an American Eagle, proudly standing with his head fully erect and wings folded. He is shown grasping an olive branch in his claws.

Mintage

Production began in 1907 in the “wire edge” variety, meaning that there is a sharp rim along the circumference. Most coins are designed with a distinctive raised edge that is rounded. The outer edge of the coin was stamped with 46 stars to represent the states that were members of the Union at that time. It was found that the coins did not stack well, however, so the move to a “wire edge” was abandoned. There were only 500 Eagle coins struck with this type of edge.

The “rolled edge” that is normally used on coins was tried. The mint attempted to still stamp the stars on the edge, but the results were not desirable. There were originally about 31,500 of these coins minted before the design was changed again. Most of these coins were melted down, only 42 survived. An owner of this exceptionally rare $10 coin will be pleased to learn that the value of it is currently closer to $400,000.

In 1907, changes were made to the Indian Head Eagle. The periods around the words E PLURIBUS UNUM were removed and the quality was vastly improved. 239,406 of these coins were issued by the mint before the year ended.

Unfortunately, these coins were not popular with the public because they did not contain the words IN GOD WE TRUST. Roosevelt did not want to include the Lord’s name on coins as he viewed it as a sign of disrespect. Technically, however, it was Congressional mandate that added those words to coinage in the year 1865, and the president lacked the authority to dictate whether it should be on a coin or not. Congress reasserted its power and the words IN GOD WE TRUST were added to the Indian Head Eagle about halfway through the 1908 printing year.

Available Years

The coins were minted on a regular basis between the years 1907 and 1917. Between 1917 and 1933, however, minting of the Gold Eagle was sporadic. Ultimately, the minting of gold coins was ended with Franklin Roosevelt’s Gold Order of 1933. Under this directive, private citizens were banned from owning gold coins and bullion. Of the 312,500 Indian Head Eagles minted in 1933, only a few dozen were actually released for sale. The remainders were melted down under the provisions of the Gold Order. One of the surviving coins sold at auction in September of 2008 for an astonishing $450,000.

Purchasing

The key dates that enjoy high value are the 1920-S and the 1930S. Other years that are worth having and are still reasonably affordable include the 1911-D, the 1913-S and the 1915-S.

It is important that you insist on having any coin certified by a leading grading service company before making a purchase. The PCGS, NGC, ICG, and ANACS are the four leading services and taking the time to have them review and certify the coin can save you a costly mistake.

References:

US Coin Values
Direct US Gold Coins

History

The Turban Head Half Eagle was first issued in 1795 under the guidance of Henry DeSaussure who was the Mint Director. The half eagles were the first gold coins minted by the US Mint. They were designed by Robert Scot who was the first Chief Engraver of the US Mint. The coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint which was the first and only mint at the time. Production continued until 1804 when President Thomas Jefferson halted the minting of all gold eagles due to the high price of gold. Worldwide gold prices had been driven higher due to the Napoleonic Wars. This ended the minting of the Turban Head Half Eagle. The replacement half eagle used a different design when production resumed in 1838. American coinage from that point used a bimetallic ratio of gold and silver.

Design

The design on the observe side of Turban Head Half Eagle is based on Classical design. The image of Lady Liberty was similar to that of a Greek goddess. While many Greek statues showed exposed busts, the Turban Head Half Eagle had the bust of Liberty draped to reflect the modest tastes of the 18th century. The misnamed turban was a Phrygian cap with one lock of hair wrapping upward around it.

The reverse side of the Turban Head Half Eagle featured an eagle that was standing on a branch with an olive branch victory wreath in its beak. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is found in a semicircle around the outside of the eagle image. This reverse design was called the “small eagle” and was minted from 1795 to 1797. It didn’t draw much favor from the public at the time. They viewed the eagle as scrawny and that it was an unfavorable depiction of the young nation.

A different reverse design was introduced in 1797 and was used until 1804. The eagle on this side of the coin was called the “heraldic eagle” because it featured a larger eagle with widespread wings and a shield based on the Great Seal of the United States. A cluster of clouds and thirteen stars loomed above the eagle’s head. In its claws was a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. The coins of that era did not bear any denominations and their value was based on their weight.

Specifications

The Turban Head Half Eagle has a diameter of approximately 25 millimeters and weighs 8.75 grams. The coin has a reeded edge and is composed of 0.9167 gold and 0.0833 copper. The net weight is 0.25788 ounces of pure gold. Since all the coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, there is no mint mark.

Collectibles

Since the Turban Head Half Eagle was one of the earliest gold coins produced in the United States, their availability has made them very desirable among collectors. Many of the Turban Head Half Eagles were melted down as were other coins of the era prior to 1834. One of the standout Turban Head Half Eagles was the 1798 issue which has only a few specimens existing today. The Small Eagle design is also in high demand since it had a short period during which it was produced.

The History:

The Turban Head Quarter Eagle has a unique history. While congress passed the bill to make gold coins during 1792, the Turban Head Quarter Eagle was not actually struck until 1796. Of the coins struck at the U.S. Mints, only about 20,000 Quarter Eagles with the Turban or Capped Head design were struck between 1796 and 1807.

Part of the reason so few coins were produced was a direct result of the tensions and rise in gold prices in Europe. The Quarter Eagle has a weight of 4.37 grams and of the weight, 91.7 percent was pure gold while only 8.3 percent was other materials. The result was that the U.S. gold coins that were minted were considered undervalued and thus the Quarter Eagles were shipped to Europe to melt down the coin and use the gold.
The result of low production and then the melting of the coin resulted in a very rare coin.

Design:

The design of the Turban Head Quarter Eagle is actually variable depending on the year and the specific coin.

The obverse side displays Lady Liberty looking toward the left side with some of her hair flowing down her neck while the top of her head is hidden with a cap or turban. Above her head, the word “Liberty” is written and below the capped bust is the date the coin was minted. Depending on the year and the coin, some coins will have stars on the observe side of the coin while others will not have the stars. The number of stars will also vary, often ranging between 13 and 14 stars.

The reverse side of the coin shows the head and spread wings of an American bald eagle that has the body hidden behind a shield of the stars and stripes. The bottom of the shield allows the tail feathers and talons of the eagle to show. In the left talon, the eagle clutches olive branches. In the right talon, the eagle holds a bundle of arrows. The term “United States of America” wraps around the outer edge of the coin to surround the eagle. Clouds sit under the words “States of” and between the eagle’s wings. Below the clouds and around the eagle’s head, some versions of the coin have the stars. Other versions do not have the stars on the reverse. The term “E Pluribus Unum” is written in a ribbon through the eagle’s head and wings.

The coin does not have the denomination displayed on the design.

Buying the Coin:

The Turban Head Quarter Eagle is an extremely rare gold coin. Even during the time it was minted, the coin was considered rare due to the low number of coins originally produced. Since many of the coins were also melted down for the value of the gold, very few of these coins are available.

A real Turban Head Quarter Eagle is an expensive purchase and is usually only available to purchase through an auction if one becomes available. The coin is not readily available through most gold coin sources that sell collector coins and is usually difficult to find even during an auction. Since the price is very high based on the extreme rarity of the coin, most gold coin collectors will not have the opportunity or means to purchase this particular U.S. coin.

History of the $2.5 Gold Coin

The first $2.5 Liberty gold coin was minted in 1972 through a Congressional Act. Over the years, the design of the $2.5 Liberty gold coins has undergone several makeovers. The most memorable and coveted design was created in 1840 by Christian Gobrecht. This new design was called the $2.50 Liberty Head or the $2.5 Coronet Type. This coin design lasted longer than any other in American history.

The majority of the coins in circulation between 1840 and 1907 were produced in Philadelphia. Some coins, before the Civil War, were also minted in Dahlonega, Charlotte and New Orleans. San Francisco also minted the $2.50 Liberty Heads after 1854.

Description of the $2.5 Gold Coin

The $2.5 gold coin features the Lady Liberty on the front with hair pulled back into a tight bun. A coronet adorns the top of the head and curls are loosely hanging down her neck. The coronet features the word ‘Liberty’ and stars encircle her impression. The thirteen stars represent the 13 colonies present at that time.

The “United States of America” encircles the bald eagle on the back. The wings are spread on the bald eagle, and the olive branches surround the eagle. A shield of stars and stripes are featured on the eagle’s chest.

The $2.5 Gold Coin as an Investment

Gold coins and gold bullion are considered safe investments during a time of economic uncertainty. Investors may find that the Liberty series of coins are increasing in value. If you currently have some of the $2.5 Liberty gold coins in your possession, you can expect to receive a minimum of $286. Some of the rare uncirculated coins carry a value of as much as $3,240. $2.5 Liberty gold coins as a safe and wise investment to weather the storm.

Rare dates are important in the value of the coin. Coins with rare dates will be typically valued higher than a coin with dates that are common. For instance, experts have found that there are very few coins dated in 1885. Most coins dated in this year are worth over $400, if the condition is “Very Fine.” If the coin is uncirculated, it is worth $3240 or more in value.

Another rare year is 1881. All coins in this year, from “Very Fine” to “Uncirculated,” are worth over $1800. The “About Uncirculated” price is $3520. The “Uncirculated” version is extremely rare, and the value would be determined via appraisal or auction. The grading is typically determined by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). They can help you understand the value of your coin and give you advice about how to maintain, sell or increase the value of your coin.

Conclusion

The condition, mintmark and date of the coin are all factors that affect the overall value of $2.5 Liberty gold coin. Collectors should consider each of these criteria before purchase to ensure that their investment is wise and will appreciate over the years.

History:

The history of the $5 Liberty gold coin is a long and starts with the approval by congress to make a gold coin called the Half Eagle. The United States congress first passed approval to design and strike on April 2, 1792. After the approval, a design was created that was called the Capped Bust to Right and Small Eagle which featured the face of Lady Liberty looking toward the right.

The original 1792 design was the first gold coin the United States minted and became the only gold coin minted in all seven U.S. Mints throughout its circulation. The 1792 design did not have the U.S. motto “In God We Trust” put onto the coin and the design was changed throughout the history of the coin.

The final design of the $5 Liberty gold coin is called the Liberty or the Coronet and was designed by Christian Golbrecht in 1839. While the design was the last, one final change was added to the coin in 1866, the United States motto of “In God We Trust” was added to the coin.

Of the $5 Liberty gold coins, the most common coin available is the final version that was minted from 1866 to 1908. Older coins are less common due to the scarcity of coins that survived. In general, when talking about the Liberty Half Eagle, the reference includes the coins with the country motto rather than the older coins.

The Design:

The design of the U.S. $5 Liberty gold coin is the means of differentiating the coin from other coins that might look similar, particularly when comparing the older coins to the more common 1866 and newer versions of the coin.

The Liberty Half Eagle Coronet design made by Christian Golbrecht shows the face and capped bust of Lady Liberty looking toward the right side on the obverse side of the coin. Her hair is pulled into a tight bun and has beads or pearls in a string decorating the bun to create a more feminine look. Lady Liberty is crowned with a coronet that has the word “Liberty” written in it. Every letter of Liberty is capitalized to bring the statement into clear focus. Around Lady Liberty’s head are 13 stars that have six points to represent the original 13 states. The date is written under the bust of Lady Liberty.

The reverse side of the coin shows the American bald eagle spreading his wings and turning his face to the right side of the coin. He holds three arrows in his talons while standing among olive branches to display that while he wishes for peace and harmony, he is willing to take a stand and fight if the need arises. On his breast, the eagle has a shield showing the stars and stripes of the United States flag. The term “Five D” to show the denomination of the Liberty Half Eagle sits to the bottom of the eagle. The term “United States of America” wraps around the sides and top of the coin to surround the proud eagle. All of the coins after 1866 also have the “In God We Trust” motto written in a ribbon directly above the eagle’s head and below the words “States of” on the coin. The earlier coins do not display the motto. All of the coins have the mint mark on the reverse with the eagle to show which mint made the coin.

Buying the Coin:

Anyone who wants to buy the coin should learn about the specific year’s scarcity before making any purchase. Some years are more common than others while other years are rarer. In general, coins from 1875 and the coins struck in the San Francisco mint during the 1860’s are considered rare. The 1880 coin is one of the most common years and is thus less rare.

References

Coin Site
Gold Line: $5 Liberty
AmerGold: $5 Liberty Gold Coins
USA Gold: U.S. Liberty $5 Gold Coin