1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle Value
Expect a 1860 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.
1860 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.
How much is a 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1860 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.
1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Half Eagle
- Year
- 1860
- 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
The missing mint mark, explained
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle comes from the main Philadelphia Mint, which left its coins unlettered in this era. The position where branch mints placed their letter (On the reverse, below the eagle) is simply blank.
What makes the 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle valuable
The 1860 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.
Each 1860 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.
There is history in a 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle as well. Christian Gobrecht's Liberty half eagle holds a unique distinction: it is the only U.S. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* 1860
bust l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.FIVE D..
eagle, l.
Measured 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
6 physically measured 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle examples 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle #1 | 7.546 g | 23 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.59, Breen.7936 |
| 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle #2 | 9.023 g | 22 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.22, Breen.7940 |
| 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle #3 | 9.124 g | 22 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.22, Breen.7940 |
| 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle #4 | 8.338 g | 21.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.142, Breen.6647 |
| 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle #5 | - | - | - | Friedberg.USA.138, Breen.6643 |
| 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle #6 | 8.326 g | 22 mm | 6 h | Breen.Encyclopedia.6646, Breen.1, Winter.31-x |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1860 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.