While the Civil War effectively ended the circulation of gold and silver coinage up and down the East Coast, hard money remained in the channels of Western commerce throughout that fraught period in American history. The San Francisco Mint struck 9,500 half eagles in 1862, nearly all of which ended up in circulation. Probably three or four pieces survive in Mint State, at best, and the entire population of 1862-S five-dollar gold pieces is likely smaller than 100 coins.
The PCGS population is 1 with only 1 graded higher.
The New Orleans Mint was the only Southern branch to resume coinage operations following the Civil War. Interestingly, its survival as a minting facility can be attributed in part to the same legislation that brought about the coinage of millions of unneeded standard silver dollars. The Bland-Allison Act of February 1878, called for the Treasury Department to purchase monthly 2 to 4 million dollars worth of silver bullion, and to have it coined into new silver dollars which would largely be stored in government vaults. The sudden demand in coinage operations mandated by the law virtually necessitated the reopening of the branch mint in New Orleans, which resumed coinage operations in 1879.
However, the New Orleans Mint’s days were nonetheless numbered. In 1904, coinage of Morgan silver dollars was discontinued and construction was begun on a modern, high-capacity branch mint in Denver, Colorado. Silver and gold coin production at the Louisiana branch dwindled after 1906, when the Denver Mint opened, and by 1909, the need for continued operations at the Southern facility was virtually dissolved. On April 1, of that year, coinage was suspended, and in 1911, the dismantling of the outdated machinery was begun.
Coinage in the first three months of 1909, prior to operations suspension, consisted primarily of dimes, with more than 2.2 million pieces struck; quarter production amounted to only 712,000 coins, and halves to just 945,400 pieces. The only gold coinage at New Orleans in 1909, consisted of a paltry 34,200 half eagles. Interestingly, this was the first issue of this denomination struck there since 1894.
In addition to its popularity as the only O-mint issue of Pratt’s Indian Head type, the 1909-O half eagle is also a significant key date within the series. The 1929 is rarer in the absolute sense, but in Mint State, the 1909-O is the less often seen coin.
Offered at $16,700 delivered
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
The 1795 half eagles were the first gold coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint and are among our country’s most historic numismatic treasures. Offered here is a very special pair – a Small Eagle example and a Large Eagle example, each graded MS64 by NGC.
The 1795 half eagles were the first gold coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint and are among our country’s most historic numismatic treasures.
1795 Small Eagle (NGC population of 4 with 8 higher, including a couple of PL examples): Listed at $332,800 in the CDN CPG and $335,000 in the NGC price guide.
Offered at $247,000
1795 Large Eagle (NGC population of 2 with none higher):
Offered at $327,000
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
