Numismatic

1861 $5 Liberty Gold Half Eagle AU

---

This gold coin, minted in Philadelphia during the pivotal year of 1861, represents a classic era of American coinage. As a five-dollar denomination, it contains 0.2419 troy ounces of gold and is composed of 90 percent pure precious metal. This particular issue is recognized by collectors as an early date in the series, with a total mintage of 688,084 pieces. The design of this half eagle is notable for being a No Motto variety, meaning it lacks the religious inscription that would appear on later issues. On the obverse, a left-facing portrait of Liberty is adorned with a hair band displaying her name. She is encircled by thirteen stars, representing the original colonies, with the date 1861 positioned below. The reverse features a bold heraldic eagle with a shield draped across its chest. In its talons, the eagle holds symbols of national strength. Surrounding this central motif are the legends indicating the country of origin, United States of America, along with the face value of Five Dollars.