Numismatic

1853 $5 Liberty Gold Half Eagle AU-58 NGC

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In 1853, the United States Mint produced this gold half eagle, a five dollar denomination containing 0.2419 ounces of actual gold content. This specific specimen has survived in remarkable condition, certified by professional graders as About Uncirculated 58 (AU-58), meaning it retains much of its original luster and detail from the mid-nineteenth century. The coin showcases the artistic work of Christian Gobrecht, a design format that graced the half eagle denomination for a long span from 1839 to 1907. On the obverse, a left-facing profile of Liberty is crowned with a hair band bearing the inscription LIBERTY. Thirteen stars encircle her portrait, representing the original colonies, with the year 1853 anchored at the bottom. Turning the coin over reveals a detailed heraldic eagle on the reverse. The eagle clutches an olive branch and arrows, its breast protected by a shield. Surrounding this central motif are the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the abbreviated denomination FIVE D., confirming its five-dollar face value.