1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle brings anywhere from $826 to $8,103, 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.
1874 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 the 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1874 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.
1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Half Eagle
- Year
- 1874
- 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
Why there is no letter on this coin
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time. On branch-mint examples the mark sits on the reverse, below the eagle.
What makes the 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle valuable
For the 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle, surviving examples tell the story that mint records do not. Museum-documented specimens define the issue for collectors.
At 0.2419 troy ounces of gold, $810 at spot, the intrinsic value of a 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle is substantial, and every move in the gold market flows straight into its price.
There is history in a 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle as well. 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. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* 1874
bust l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.FIVE D..
eagle facing, head l., motto on scroll, above
Measured 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
2 physically measured 1874 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle #1 | 8.35 g | 21.5 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.145, Breen.6689 |
| 1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle #2 | - | - | - | Friedberg.USA.143, Breen.6687 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1874 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.