Half Eagle

Notes: It is recorded that the US Mint produced 50 of these extremely rare 1841-O $5 gold half eagles - but none are known to exist in any collection. It is assumed that they were melted by the US Mint shortly after they were produced.

Designer: Christian Gobrecht

History: The Liberty (or Coronet) Head design first appeared on the Half Eagle in 1839. It was a popular design and remained in service until 1908. The design for the Liberty Half Eagle was created by Christian Gobrecht, the son of a German born immigrant and a talented engraver. He is also credited with the Liberty Seated design introduced on the silver denominations during the same era. For the gold coins, the head of Liberty appears, facing left. She wears a coronet inscribed LIBERTY with her hair bound in a knot with a beaded ribbon. The date appears below and thirteen stars surround.

The reverse design depicts a bald eagle, grasping an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other. The eagle’s wings are spread, and a large shield is placed at the chest. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is around and the denomination expressed as FIVE D.