With a design that set it apart from other gold coins of its time, the Turban Head Half Eagle was a gold coin with a $5.00 denomination. The name derived from the image of Liberty wearing a cap and not a turban as the common name for the coin denotes. It is possible that her hair twisting around the cap makes it appear to be a turban.

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.

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