1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle Value
Expect a 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle to trade between about $826 and $8,103, driven almost entirely by grade, and its metal content alone is worth $810 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $810.26 |
| Good (G-4) | $826 to $1,094 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $826 to $1,134 |
| Fine (F-12) | $826 to $1,195 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $882 to $1,296 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $999 to $1,469 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1,205 to $1,772 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $1,515 to $2,228 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $2,066 to $3,038 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $5,510 to $8,103 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-13. 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 Liberty Head Half Eagle value
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle starts around $826. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $8,103. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Half Eagle
- Year
- 1842
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- 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
Why this coin has no mint mark
The 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1842, that is exactly as it should be.
What makes the 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle valuable
The gold inside a 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle, 0.2419 troy ounces, currently $810, is the foundation of the price. Numismatic value begins where the bullion math ends.
Official mintage figures for the 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle are not well established. The museum-documented specimens behind our specifications provide the physical reference points for the issue, and the market prices it on observed scarcity.
Context adds the final layer to the 1842 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 Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
***************** (date)
coronet head l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIVE D.
eagle, head l.
Measured 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
1 physically measured 1842 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 Liberty Head Half Eagle #1 | 8.356 g | 22 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.138, Breen.6537 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle is valued between $826 and $8,103 as of 2026-06-13. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.