Numismatic

1851 $5 Liberty Gold Half Eagle XF

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Struck in the mid nineteenth century, this 1851 gold coin carries a face value of five dollars. Minted in Philadelphia, it does not bear a mint mark, distinguishing it from those struck at branch facilities. This issue contains 0.2419 troy ounces of gold, composed of a 0.900 fineness. Over the decades, vast numbers of these gold pieces were melted down, making surviving specimens particularly compelling to study. The obverse side, designed by Christian Gobrecht, showcases a left-facing portrait of Liberty. Her hair is bound by a band clearly inscribed with the word LIBERTY, and she is encircled by thirteen stars representing the original colonies. The year 1851 is positioned directly beneath her portrait. On the reverse, a detailed heraldic eagle stands with a protective shield across its chest. The bird holds its traditional symbolic elements, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Below the eagle, the denomination is abbreviated as FIVE D.