Coin Specifications

The series of Liberty Head Quarter Eagles represents the longest running design for the $2.50 denomination. The coins were struck for more than six decades from 1840 until 1907. Specifications for the coin match the preceding the subsequent series, although the number of facilities used to strike the coins was much greater.

On the obverse design is a depiction of Liberty facing left and surrounded by thirteen stars. The date appears below and the word “Liberty” is inscribed on the coronet with hair lightly bound. The reverse features a more ornithologically correct bald eagle, in heraldic form with a shield at its chest and three arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The inscription “United States of America” surround with the denomination “2 1/2 D.” below.

Production for the Liberty Quarter Eagle took place at the Philadelphia Mint, the San Francisco Mint after its establishment in 1854, and the southern mints located at Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans. All issues were struck in a composition of 90% gold and 10% copper, with net gold content of 0.12094 troy ounces. The coins have a weight of 4.18 grams and diameter of 18 mm. Included in the long running series are several notable rarities like the proof-only 1841 and 1863 issues, and low mintage 1854-S and 1875.

Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Coin Specifications

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The start of the Liberty Coronet Gold Eagle series also marked the start of new specifications for the denomination. The change was prompted by higher world gold prices that made the melt value of the ten dollar gold coins higher than the face value. Production was suspended from 1804 until 1837, when two acts of Congress adjusted both the purity and weight of the gold denominations.

The Liberty Gold Eagle had a composition of 90% gold and 10% copper. The weight of the coins was 16.718 grams, which yielded a net weight of .48375 of pure gold.

Christian Gobrecht was the designer of the new series which featured the head of Liberty on the obverse. She wore a coronet with the word “Liberty” and was surrounded by thirteen stars. The reverse design of the coin featured a bald eagle with a shield at its chest and olive branches and arrows in its talons. Starting in 1866, a scroll was added above the eagle, which included the motto “In God We Trust”.

The design proved to be an enduring one, lasting until 1907 when it was finally replaced by the Indian Head design by Augustus Saint Gaudens. During the series, coins were struck at Philadelphia, Denver, Carson City, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

Liberty Coronet Eagle Coin Specifications

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The American Silver Eagle was introduced in 1986 as the official silver bullion coin of the United States. It has become popular worldwide with precious metals investors as well as collectors. Each coin contains one ounce of .999 fine silver. The obverse design of the coins is taken from Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty Half Dollar and the reverse of the coins features a heraldic eagle designed by John Mercanti.

The US Mint issues the bullion version of the coin to a network of authorized purchasers based on the spot price of silver plus a fixed mark up. Traditionally, collectible versions of the coin have also been made available for purchase directly from the Mint. From 1986 to 2008, proof Silver Eagles were produced and sold in quantity. In recent years, the heavy demand for bullion coins has resulted in a suspension of collector offerings.

During the course of the series and across bullion and collector versions, American Silver Eagles have been produced at the West Point, San Francisco, and Philadelphia Mint facilities. Coins have been produced in bullion version, collectible proof, collectible uncirculated, and reverse proof.

American Silver Eagle Coin Specifications

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The double eagle was a new gold denomination created by the Coinage Act of 1849. The coins would carry a value of $20, the highest for a U.S. coin at the time and double the value of the eagle, which was created by the Coinage Act of 1792. The higher denomination was desired to strike the massive amounts of gold discovered in California into coin.

The Liberty Gold Double Eagle was designed by James B. Longacre. The new design was first struck in 1849 (a unique pattern coin) and produced for circulation starting in 1850. The obverse features the head of Liberty facing left with thirteen stars surrounding. The reverse features a modified version of the heraldic eagle with two scrolls. A circle of thirteen stars appears above with inscriptions around the entire design.

The coins were struck in 90% gold and 10% copper. Each coin contains .96750 ounces of pure gold. During the course of the series, which last more than half a century, coins were struck at Philadelphia, Carson City, Denver, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

Liberty Head Double Eagle Coin Specifications

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The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was issued from 1916 to 1947. Along with other designs of the same era, this is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the history of circulating American coinage. The obverse features a rendition of the allegorical Liberty figure standing and striding forward with a hand outstretch. The reverse features an eagle perched on a stone. The designer of the coin was Andrew A Weinman. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was minted at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. The lowest mintage occured with the 1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar with 208,000 coins struck.

Walking Liberty Half Dollar Coin Specifications

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