1862-S $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle PCGS AU53

Possibly less than 100 examples of this rarity exist today!

David Akers writes, “The 1862-S is one of the really great rarities of the Half Eagle series.”

While the Civil War ended the circulation of gold and silver currency up and down the East Coast, hard money continued to circulate in Western commerce throughout that troubled episode of American history.

The San Francisco Mint produced 9,500 half eagles in 1862, most of which ended up in circulation. Perhaps three or four pieces survive in Mint State, at most, and the entire population of surviving 1862-S five dollar gold pieces is possibly less than 100 coins. This important Choice AU example from AUCM is among the finest available to the collector. PCGS has graded 4 as AU53 with 6 finer. Collectors Universe prices this rare issue at $30,000.00 in AU53.

The First San Francisco Mint operations: "Running the gold into ingots." Illustration: Library of Congress.