1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle Value

Today a 1904 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 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.

Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.

1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle value by grade

1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle value by grade
GradeEstimated 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 1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle worth today?

In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1904 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.

1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle specifications

Series
Liberty Head Half Eagle
Year
1904
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

Philadelphia struck the 1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (On the reverse, below the eagle) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.

What makes the 1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle valuable

The 1904 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 1904 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.

Context adds the final layer to the 1904 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.

1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle inscriptions & design

Obverse

************* 1904

bust l.

Reverse

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • / FIVE D.

eagle facing, head l., motto on scroll above

Measured 1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens

1 physically measured 1904 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.

Measured 1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1904 Liberty Head Half Eagle #1---Friedberg.USA.143, Breen.6785

Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.

Summary: the 1904 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.