1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle Value
In the current market, a 1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle changes hands for roughly $826 at the low end and $8,103 at the top; the melt floor under every example is $810 (spot prices 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.
1891 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 1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1891 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.
1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications
- Series
- Liberty Head Half Eagle
- Year
- 1891
- 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 1891 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 1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle valuable
With 0.2419 oz of fine gold inside ($810 of metal at today's prices), a 1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle can never trade below its bullion value, and rarer dates stack collector premiums on top.
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Context adds the final layer to the 1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle. Christian Gobrecht's Liberty half eagle holds a unique distinction: it is the only U.S. 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.
1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design
Obverse
************* 1891
bust l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.FIVE D..
eagle facing, head l., motto on scroll, above
Measured 1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
1 physically measured 1891 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891 Liberty Head Half Eagle #1 | - | - | - | Friedberg.USA.143, Breen.6744 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1891 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.