1884-S $5 Liberty Gold Half Eagle MS-64 NGC

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In 1884, the San Francisco Mint struck this five dollar gold piece, a denomination traditionally known as the Half Eagle. This particular specimen has survived the decades in an extraordinary state of preservation, achieving a certified grade of Mint State 64 (MS-64). Containing 0.2419 troy ounces of gold, the coin represents a fascinating era of United States gold coinage before the major recalls of the early twentieth century. The obverse features the classic profile of Liberty, her hair secured by a band inscribed with her name, "LIBERTY", above the year of issue, 1884. The reverse displays an eagle with a shield on its breast, surrounded by the legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the denomination expressed as "FIVE D." Just beneath the eagle, the distinct "S" mintmark indicates its origin from the busy West Coast minting facility.