1877 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle NGC AU55

Here’s an impressive and rare piece to add to your collection. It would be perfect for the specialist in Liberty head gold issues. Take a look at the photos, and then imagine owning it for many years of endless pleasure! PCGS estimates that no more than 100 examples have survived into the 21st century. NGC has graded 5 as AU55 with 20 finer. Collector’s Universe prices this issue at $11,000.00 in AU55.

It was some years ago that Bowers and Marena wrote in a listing for this issue: “A prized rarity in all grades, as might be expected from a mintage of 1,132 pieces, this in an era when no numismatic attention was paid to business strikes of any denomination. In fact, the figure is so low that only the 1875 is lower among Philadelphia Mint issues of this design.”

Continuing, they write, "The few pieces that survive tend to be in higher grades such as XF or AU, but these are few and far between.” 

Christian Gobrecht, who crafted the dramatic Liberty Head design on the $5 half eagle and other coin series. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.