Numismatic

1856 $5 Liberty Gold Half Eagle XF Details (Cleaned)

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In 1856, the Philadelphia Mint produced a run of 197,990 gold half eagles, each containing 0.2419 troy ounces of gold with a purity of 0.900. Over the decades, many of these five-dollar pieces were melted down, making surviving examples a fascinating window into mid-nineteenth-century American currency. This particular specimen is graded in Extra Fine condition with details noting it has been cleaned, preserving its historical design elements for modern observers to study. Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the obverse of the coin features a left-facing portrait of Liberty. Her hair is bound by a band inscribed with the word 'LIBERTY', and she is encircled by thirteen stars representing the original colonies, with the year 1856 positioned at the bottom. This classic depiction was a staple of American gold coinage, appearing on half eagles minted from 1838 to 1907. The reverse displays a proud heraldic eagle with a shield draped across its breast. In its talons, the eagle grasps an olive branch and arrows. The legend 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' arches over the central design, while the denomination is abbreviated as 'FIVE D.' at the bottom edge, completing a design that circulated widely during a transformative era in United States history.