1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle Value

A 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle is worth roughly $826 to $8,103 depending on its condition, with a hard melt-value floor of $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.

1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle value by grade

1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle value by grade
GradeEstimated 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.

How much is a 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle worth today?

Figure roughly $826 as the realistic floor for a damage-free, well-worn 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle, rising steadily through the grades to about $8,103 for a certified gem. Cleaned or damaged coins trade below these figures, though never below the $810 melt floor.

1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications

Series
Liberty Head Half Eagle
Year
1846
Mint mark
D
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

Where to look for the mint mark

Flip your 1846 Liberty Head Half Eagle over and locate the "D". On the reverse, below the eagle That single letter separates the Dahlonega issue from its siblings and can move the price substantially.

Why the 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle is worth money

Documented examples of the 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.

Each 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle holds 0.2419 troy ounces of gold, worth $810 at current spot prices. Gold content dominates the value of common dates and underwrites every numismatic premium above it.

Few series carry the following that supports the 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle. Common Philadelphia and San Francisco dates of the 1880s-1900s survive in quantity and track the gold price, making them an accessible entry into pre-1933 gold. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.

1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design

Obverse

LIBERTY / 1846

Liberty bust left surrounded by 13 stars

Reverse

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / D/ FIVE D.

Heraldic eagle

Measured 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens

1 physically measured 1846-D 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.

Measured 1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1846-D Liberty Head Half Eagle #18.341 g21.73 mm6 hFriedberg.USA.140, Breen.6564

Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.

Summary: the 1846-D 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.