1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle Value
Expect a 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle to trade between about $1,515 and $70,898, driven almost entirely by grade, and its metal content alone is worth $810 as of 2026-06-01 See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $810.26 |
| Good (G-4) | $1,515 to $2,228 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $1,928 to $2,836 |
| Fine (F-12) | $2,479 to $3,646 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $3,444 to $5,064 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $5,165 to $7,596 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $7,576 to $11,141 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $11,708 to $17,218 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $20,662 to $30,385 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $48,211 to $70,898 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-14. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
Current 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle value
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle starts around $1,515. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $70,898. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Half Eagle
- Year
- 1842
- Mint mark
- C
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- 90% gold, 10% copper
- Weight
- 8.359 g
- Diameter
- 21.6 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
- Designer
- Christian Gobrecht
- Gold content
- 0.24187 troy oz
How to find the C mint mark
On a 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle, the "C" mint mark of the Charlotte Mint sits on the reverse, below the eagle. A loupe helps: on worn examples the letter can fade into the surrounding devices.
What makes the 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle valuable
With 0.2419 oz of fine gold inside ($810 of metal at today's prices), a 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle can never trade below its bullion value, and rarer dates stack collector premiums on top.
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Context adds the final layer to the 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle. Christian Gobrecht's Liberty half eagle holds a unique distinction: it is the only U.S. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY / 1842
Liberty bust left surrounded by 13 stars
Reverse
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / C/ FIVE D.
Heraldic eagle
Measured 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
1 physically measured 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle example in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 8.359 g, 21.6 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle #1 | 8.319 g | 22.38 mm | 6 h | Friedberg.USA.139, Breen.6539 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1842-C Liberty Head Half Eagle is valued between $1,515 and $70,898 as of 2026-06-14. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.