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1861 Liberty Head Half Eagle Obverse     1861 Liberty Head Half Eagle Reverse
 


1861 FIVE DOLLARS
OR HALF EAGLE

PCGS Nos: 8288, 8451

Mintage:

Circulation strikes: 688,084
Proofs: 66

Designer: Christian Gobrecht

Diameter: ±21.65 millimeters

Metal content:
Gold - 90%
Other - 10%

Weight: 129 grains (8.24 grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia) above the date

Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions

Significant examples:
Proof (illustrated above).  Ex Trompeter collection

PCGS MS-64.  Superior Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach" Sale, June 5-7, 2000, Lot 2209 sold for $8,050.00 "to the book"

Recent appearances:
PCGS MS-65.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 4024, illustrated, sold for $11,500.00

PCGS MS-64.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 7253, illustrated, not sold

PCGS MS-64.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 7601, illustrated, not sold

MS-63.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 481, illustrated, not sold  From Stack's sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 213

PCGS MS-63.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s, "Summer 2001 Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 8985, plated, sold for $5,347.50  Sold on behalf of the Wilkins Foundation

PCGS MS-61.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part II", March 15-17, 2001, Lot 142 sold for $1,150.00

Brilliant Uncirculated.  Ex - Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 1742, not plated, sold for $718.75

ANACS AU-58.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s, "Summer 2001 Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 8984, not plated, unsold

About Uncirculated.  Ex - Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 1743, not plated, sold for $546.25

EF-40.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 1400, not illustrated, sold for $184.00

Notes:
The finest Uncirculated example graded by PCGS is a single MS-66.

The finest Proof example graded by PCGS is a single PR-63.

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen

"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The Professional Coin Grading Service

 

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