Five Dollar Gold Price Guide
The $5 Half Eagle Liberty series was minted from 1795 to 1908, when it changed to the Indian Head design that ran through 1929. The first U.S. gold coins did not have a denomination on them as gold was traded by its weight and purity. First Chief Engraver, Robert Scot designed the first Half Eagles, struck on a screw press on July 31, 1795, with only 744 coins struck. The first Half Eagles were the Draped Bust (Turban Head) Right style (1795-1807), originally with a Small Eagle reverse (1795-1798), and then a Heraldic Eagle reverse (1795-1807). The Capped Bust Left style (1807-1834), by Assistant Engraver John Reich, had several design changes; Type 1 Capped Bust, Large Head (1807-1812). Type 2 Capped Bust, Small Head, Large Diameter (1813-1829). Type 3, Capped Bust, Reduced Diameter (1829-1834). The Classic Head series (1834-1838) was redesigned by Second Chief Engraver, William Kneass. The Liberty Head (1839-1908) designed by Third Chief Engraver, Christian Gobrecht, had two types; Without Motto (1839-1866), and With Motto (1866-1908). In 1908, the Liberty Coronet Half Eagle gave way to the Indian Head design of Bela Lyon Pratt, fulfilling President Theodore Roosevelt's dream of an artistic national coinage.
Small Eagle Bust Right
Sm. Eagle Bust Rt. Type $131,250 $166,880 $206,250 $400,000 $600,000
1795 Sm. Eagle $143,000 $166,880 $206,250 $406,250 $600,000
1796/5 $136,500 $193,750 $262,500 $384,000 $606,250
1797 15/Stars $318,500 — — — —
1797 16/Stars $422,500 $456,250 — — —
1798 Sm. Eagle — — — — —
Heraldic Eagle Bust Right
Her. Eagle Bust Rt. Type $15,440 $18,310 $29,380 $43,130 $134,550
1795 Her. Eagle $168,750 $193,750 $262,500 $338,000 —
1797/5 $260,000 $312,000 — — —
1797 16 Star Obv. — — — — —
1798 Sm. 8 $60,130 $102,050 $143,000 $195,000 —
1798 Lg. 8 13 Stars $34,690 $55,630 $87,750 $188,500 —
1798 Lg. 8 14 Stars $143,750 $168,750 — — —
1802/1 $19,810 $22,190 $39,060 $49,380 $172,250
1804 Sm. 8 $19,060 $23,130 $45,630 $69,230 $154,050
1804 Sm. 8/Lg. 8 $22,940 $32,190 $61,560 $108,550 $169,000
1806 Pointed Top 6 $20,310 $32,060 $36,560 $62,730 $162,500
1806 Round Top 6 $15,440 $18,310 $29,380 $46,880 $134,550
1807 Bust Right $16,560 $22,190 $33,130 $44,850 $195,000
Capped Draped Bust Left
Cap. Dr. Bust Left Type $13,690 $15,560 $24,060 $35,750 $103,350
1807 Bust Left $14,190 $15,810 $25,000 $39,000 $120,580
1810 Sm. Date Sm. 5 $143,750 $175,000 $206,250 — —
1810 Sm. Date Tall 5 $15,000 $19,380 $29,250 $71,180 $143,000
1810 Lg. Date Sm. 5 — — — — —
1810 Lg. Date Lg. 5 $13,690 $16,060 $24,060 $35,750 $103,350
Capped Bust Left Large
Cap. Bust Left Lg. Type $17,310 $20,940 $29,060 $53,130 $136,500
1818 5D/50 $35,310 $46,880 $79,630 $107,580 $188,500
1819 $181,250 — — — $279,500
1819 5D/50 $143,750 $193,750 $253,500 $305,500 $474,500
1824 $68,250 $89,380 $143,000 $177,450 $299,000
1825/4 $1,092,000 $1,124,500 $1,170,000 $1,267,500 —
1826 $72,480 $103,440 $131,250 $150,000 $292,500
1828/7 $227,500 $243,750 $362,500 $718,750 —
1829 Lg. Date — — $300,000 $375,000 $487,500
Capped Bust Left Small
Cap. Bust Left Sm. Type $72,480 $94,250 $118,950 $169,000 $195,000
1829 Sm. Date $468,750 $520,000 $585,000 $695,500 $890,500
1832 12 Stars — — $1,020,500 — —
1832 13 Stars $96,530 $102,050 $128,050 $188,500 $260,000
1833 Lg. Date $72,480 $96,530 $118,950 $169,000 —
1834 Bust Left Pl. 4 $76,050 $94,250 $118,950 $169,000 $195,000
1834 Bust Left Cr. 4 $100,750 $113,750 $149,500 $188,500 $253,500
Classic Type $5,560 $9,460 $12,940 $27,950 $92,190
1834 Cl. Plain 4 $5,560 $9,650 $14,060 $27,950 $92,190
1834 Cl. Crosslet 4 $29,690 $38,160 $73,780 $128,050 —
1838 C $71,880 $112,130 $279,500 — —
1838 D $55,310 $105,630 $169,000 — —
Liberty Head N/M Type $1,940 $3,340 $5,310 $11,210 $39,060
1839 C $37,060 $52,810 $73,440 $364,000 —
1839 D $54,060 $100,750 — — —
1840 $4,970 $6,660 $10,910 — $143,000
1840 C $32,810 $46,560 $68,130 $95,550 —
1840 D $30,310 $41,930 $54,380 — —
1841 D $20,940 $26,880 $30,810 $51,350 $99,450
1842 Sm. Letters $21,780 $29,060 $40,630 $51,350 $71,310
1842 Lg. Letters $21,130 $27,630 $36,080 — —
1842 C Sm. Date $107,580 $131,250 $162,500 — —
1842 C Lg. Date $19,560 $27,630 $38,350 $49,080 $123,500
1842 D Sm. Date $19,810 $30,230 — — —
1842 D Lg. Date $68,580 — — — —
1843 D $12,030 $20,630 $33,350 $71,180 —
1843 O Sm. Letters $24,380 $35,430 $51,350 $76,380 $100,430
1843 O Lg. Letters $20,630 $26,690 $37,190 $51,350 $96,850
1844 C $21,880 $28,560 $45,940 — —
1844 O $7,780 $9,660 $28,440 $44,010 $60,780
1845 D $14,380 $19,190 $34,780 $56,230 $100,750
1847 C $14,630 $21,690 $40,940 $53,630 $93,280
1849 D $20,310 $27,940 — — —
1852 C $9,660 $17,810 $30,940 $55,580 —
1857 S $12,190 $15,310 $27,630 $43,230 $97,500
1859 C $14,810 $22,190 $45,630 $89,050 $137,500
1859 S $26,880 $42,580 $143,000 — —
1861 C $50,380 $69,550 $143,000 — —
1861 D $112,780 $128,050 $338,000 — —
1864 S — — — — $343,750
1866 S No Motto $60,630 — — — —
Liberty Head With Motto
Liberty Head W/M Type $680 $800 $1,000 $1,250 $2,400
1866 S With Motto $39,330 — — — —
1873 Open 3 $1,030 $1,780 $3,560 $9,410 $21,450
1876 CC $103,440 $118,440 — — $371,250
1878 $760 $970 $2,090 $3,970 $17,360
1878 S $970 $1,530 $3,410 $8,000 $24,050
1879 S $860 $1,000 $1,880 $5,950 —
1881/0 $1,440 $1,590 $2,810 $9,300 —
1884 S $760 $840 $1,080 $3,940 $12,290
1888 $810 $1,310 $2,090 $4,440 $30,550
1890 CC $4,280 $5,470 $7,660 $21,130 $53,630
1891 CC $3,310 $4,500 $5,660 $9,980 $50,380
1892 S $760 $930 $2,090 $4,780 —
1901 S 1/0 $730 $840 $1,280 $1,720 $3,470
1906 D $680 $800 $1,000 $1,250 $2,660