1879 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle NGC MS60

Here’s a more affordable piece to add to your collection. Perhaps it could be your newest type coin. NGC has graded 56 as MS60 with 358 finer. Collector’s Universe gives this issue a price of $1,050.00 in MS60.

Writes David Akers, “The 1879 is relatively common in all grades, more so than the 1878, but the date is sufficiently scarce in uncirculated condition to keep it from the "common date gold" classification. Gems are not regularly seen.”

Christian Gobrecht, who crafted the beautiful Liberty head for the half eagle and other gold coinage. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Here's an interesting aside for collectors: Did you know that the Liberty head half eagle was the only coin to be struck at every single U.S. mint? So, if you would like to put together a type set of Liberty head $5 half eagles, then a great project would be to acquire one of each minted in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City, and Denver! Imagine putting together that unique set of seven coins from seven different mints. Wouldn't that be a great numismatic accomplishment? And the perfect affordable Philadelphia example is within your reach, waiting for you to claim it as your own.