1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle brings anywhere from $1,515 to $70,898, with a hard melt-value floor of $810 as of 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $810.26 |
| Good (G-4) | $1,515 to $2,228 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $1,928 to $2,836 |
| Fine (F-12) | $2,479 to $3,646 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $3,444 to $5,064 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $5,165 to $7,596 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $7,576 to $11,141 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $11,708 to $17,218 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $20,662 to $30,385 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $48,211 to $70,898 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-14. 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 1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle starts around $1,515. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $70,898. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Half Eagle
- Year
- 1861
- 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 to look for the mint mark
Flip your 1861 Liberty Head Half Eagle over and locate the "C". On the reverse, below the eagle That single letter separates the Charlotte issue from its siblings and can move the price substantially.
Where this coin's value comes from
Documented examples of the 1861-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 1861-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.
coin struck at all seven historic mints, including the short-lived Southern gold mints at Charlotte and Dahlonega. For the 1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.
1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY / 1861
Liberty bust left surrounded by 13 stars
Reverse
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / C/ FIVE D.
Heraldic eagle
Measured 1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
1 physically measured 1861-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle #1 | 8.345 g | 21.8 mm | 6 h | Friedberg.USA.139, Breen.6651 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1861-C Liberty Head Half Eagle is valued between $1,515 and $70,898 as of 2026-06-14. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.