GOLD COIN FIELD GUIDE
Liberty Head $5
Liberty $5 half eagles span many mints and subtypes. A familiar portrait can hide a very scarce branch-mint date.
The metal baseline
- Profile covers
- 1839–1908
- Composition
- 90% gold
- Standard gross weight
- 8.359 g
- Fine gold per coin
- 0.24187 troy oz
- Face value
- $5.00
Half eagle means $5, not half an ounce
The half-eagle name refers to half of a historical ten-dollar denomination. Its fine-gold content is far below half a troy ounce.
A modern five-dollar Gold Eagle and a historical Liberty Head five-dollar coin have different gold weights. Record the design and era, not only the dollar amount, before comparing or calculating.
Where to look. Confirm the $5 denomination and read the date on the obverse. Most branch-mint marks are on the reverse; 1839-C and 1839-D place theirs above the date on the obverse. Do not confuse this with a similarly styled $10 or $20.
Dates and details worth a second look
This is a selected watch list, not every key date or variety in the series. Finding a matching date is a reason to inspect further—not proof of authenticity, grade, or a particular value.
What do these collector labels mean?
Key date. An important scarce issue in this series; grade and authenticity still matter.
- Key date
1861-D
A rare Dahlonega issue whose collector importance extends well beyond its gold content.
Check the attribution reference ↗ - Key date
1870-CC
A scarce first-year Carson City half eagle. Verify the mintmark and surfaces.
Check the attribution reference ↗ - Key date
1875 · circulation strike
An exceptionally scarce Philadelphia regular issue. Proofs are separate; a matching date alone does not authenticate either format.
Check the attribution reference ↗
Two questions, not one price
What is the contained metal worth? This profile uses 0.24187 fine troy ounces of gold per coin. Multiply that by the number of matching coins and a current per-troy-ounce gold quote. The calculator shows the quote and its freshness when available.
What might a collector pay for this coin? That takes the exact issue, condition, surfaces, finish, and any authenticated variety. The checkpoints above explain why a collector sale may differ from the metal estimate. A calculated melt value is neither a guaranteed buying offer nor a complete appraisal.
The listed weights are standard reference specifications, with rounded published fine-metal values. They do not measure wear, damage, missing metal, or authenticity in your individual coin. Gross grams include the alloy; fine troy ounces describe the precious metal itself.
Use this profile in the calculator →Build a useful comparison
- Record the full date, mintmark, denomination, and finish. Photograph both sides and any diagnostic detail.
- Use the specific references above to check a suspected variety. Do not clean the coin to make a feature easier to see.
- Compare completed sales for the same issue and similar condition. Separate proof, special-strike, and attributed examples from ordinary coins.
- Record shipping and other costs separately. An asking price or one exceptional auction result is not a typical sold price.
References and further checking
Use these references to inspect the issue and attribution in more detail. Prices, populations, and market premiums can change.
- PCGS 1870-CC reference ↗
- PCGS: 1839 obverse mintmarks ↗
- 1861-D — reference ↗
- 1875 · circulation strike — reference ↗
- NGC gold melt-value reference ↗
Educational reference only; not individualized appraisal or investment advice. For a potentially valuable or questionable example, use a qualified numismatist or established authentication service.