1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle Value
Today a 1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle typically sells for $826 to $8,103, with condition doing most of the work, 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.
1856-C 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.
What is a 1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle worth right now?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1856-C 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.
1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Half Eagle
- Year
- 1856
- 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 1856 Liberty Head Half Eagle?
On a 1856-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.
Why the 1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle is worth money
Pre-1933 gold carries two values at once: the 1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle holds 0.2419 oz of metal ($810 today) plus the historical premium of a coin the Treasury once tried to recall entirely.
The 1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
Context adds the final layer to the 1856-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. 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.
1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY / 1856
Liberty bust left surrounded by 13 stars
Reverse
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / C/ FIVE D.
Heraldic eagle
Measured 1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
1 physically measured 1856-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1856-C Liberty Head Half Eagle #1 | 8.331 g | 21.86 mm | 6 h | Friedberg.USA.139, Breen.6622 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1856-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.