1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle Value

A 1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle is worth roughly $826 to $8,103 depending on its condition, 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.

1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle value by grade

1852-C 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 1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle worth today?

At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $826. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $8,103 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.

1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications

Series
Liberty Head Half Eagle
Year
1852
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

Where is the mint mark on a 1852 Liberty Head Half Eagle?

Charlotte's "C" is the letter that defines the 1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle. On the reverse, below the eagle On heavily circulated coins the mark wears down with everything else, so check carefully before assuming a Philadelphia strike.

Why the 1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle is worth money

Documented examples of the 1852-C 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 1852-C 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 1852-C 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.

1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design

Obverse

LIBERTY / 1852

Liberty bust left surrounded by 13 stars

Reverse

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

Heraldic eagle

Measured 1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens

1 physically measured 1852-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.

Measured 1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1852-C Liberty Head Half Eagle #18.278 g21.78 mm6 hFriedberg.USA.139, Breen.6599

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

Summary: the 1852-C 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.