The Half Eagle $5 coins were minted for circulation in the U.S. from 1795 to 1929 (and as commemorative and bullion coins from the 1980’s). The $5 coin has the unique distinction of being the only coin minted at all eight U.S. mints.

The first design was by Robert Scot and called the “Turban Head” which depicts a capped portrait of Liberty facing right, with a small eagle on the back. A second type featured a larger eagle on the back and the inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The first was produced from 1795 to 1798 and the second until 1807.

Another type of Half Eagle called the “Draped Bust” was designed by John Reich. This coin featured a round-capped Liberty facing left (the opposite of the Robert Scot design) and a revised eagle on the back. This coin’s design, although there were a couple slight modifications, stayed the same until 1834.

In 1834, there was an Act to reduce the amount of gold used in coinage. And so a new design, the “Classic Head’ was reduced in weight to 8.36 grams and diameter to 22.5 mm. It’s gold content was also reduced to .8992. William Kneass designed the revised Half Eagle with a removal of the “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

The “Liberty Head” Half Eagle followed in 1839 (coincidentally the same year photography is said to have been born) and was designed by Christian Gobrecht. It is also known as the “Coronet head”. This coin lasted from 1839 to 1908 and had no major changes except for the addition of “In God We Trust” on the back. During its production it was minted at seven U.S. mints.

The final type of Half Eagle, designed by Bela Lyon Pratt, was minted in 1908. The coin, with Indian Head design, was unique in that it was the first to be stamped in incuse, meaning that the flat surfaces are the highest points of the coin. All other coins differed in that they were raised design.