Coin values · 90% gold · 1839–1929
$5 gold coin value: Liberty and Indian half eagle melt value today
Pre-1933 $5 gold half eagles hold 0.2419 troy oz of pure gold. The Liberty Head (1839–1908) and the Indian Head (1908–1916 and 1929) are the common bullion-grade types; both trade a little above melt in circulated grades. At the Nov 3, 2026 close ($3,929.23/oz gold), one coin’s 0.2419 oz of gold was worth $950.
$5 gold half eagle specifications
| Years struck | Liberty Head 1839–1908; Indian Head 1908–1916 and 1929 |
|---|---|
| Designers | Christian Gobrecht (Liberty Head); Bela Lyon Pratt (Indian Head) |
| Mints | Philadelphia, Charlotte (C), Dahlonega (D, to 1861), New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S), Carson City (CC), Denver (D, from 1906) |
| Composition | 90% gold, 10% copper (and silver in early years) |
| Weight | 8.359 g |
| Diameter | 21.6 mm (22.5 mm in 1839–1840), reeded edge |
| Gold content (AGW) | 0.2419 troy oz |
| Face value | $5 |
| Melt value | $950 at the Nov 3, 2026 close ($3,929.23/oz gold); live value above |
Weights, fineness and mintages come from the primary records listed under Sources; melt is computed from the gold or silver content.
$5 gold half eagle melt calculator
Melt = pure metal content × recent spot (gold $3,929.23/oz). This is the bullion floor; collectible coins can be worth far more. Federal rules restrict melting only 1¢ and 5¢ coins (31 CFR Part 82; 1942–1945 silver war nickels are exempt). This estimates intrinsic value.
What a $5 gold half eagle’s gold has been worth since 1968
A $5 gold half eagle held about $9.46 of gold in 1968, peaked near $1,263 in 2026, and its metal is worth $950 today. That is melt only; a scarce date or high grade can carry a collector premium on top.
$5 gold half eagle melt value by decade
Melt of one coin at each decade’s December close. The peak month was Feb 2026 at $1,263; the low was Jan 1970 at $8.46. Melt has been above the $5.00 face value in every month since 1968, and is now about 190 times face.
| Close | Gold price | Melt per coin |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1970 | $37.38 | $9.04 |
| Dec 1980 | $589.75 | $143 |
| Dec 1990 | $386.20 | $93.42 |
| Dec 2000 | $274.45 | $66.39 |
| Dec 2010 | $1,405.50 | $340 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,887.60 | $457 |
| Nov 3, 2026 | $3,929.23 | $950 |
Prices: LBMA benchmark history, then Bullion Trading LLC 5 pm ET spot closes (monthly observations).
About the $5 gold half eagle
Bela Lyon Pratt’s Indian Head design is incuse: the design is sunk into the coin instead of raised above it. Only the $2.50 and $5 Indians used it among regular US coins, and critics in 1908 said the recesses would collect dirt.
Before the Civil War, branch mints at Charlotte, North Carolina (C) and Dahlonega, Georgia (D) struck Liberty half eagles from Southern gold. Those coins are collector pieces today; Denver’s D appears only from 1906.
The 1909-O is the only New Orleans Indian half eagle, and its O mintmark sits on the reverse in front of the eagle’s feet.
Key dates and mintages
- 1909-O: 34,200 struck, the key Indian Head date and the last New Orleans coinage.
- 1929: 662,000 struck but few released before the 1933 recall.
- Charlotte and Dahlonega Liberty coins are scarce in every grade.
When is a $5 gold half eagle worth more than melt?
Common Liberty and Indian half eagles in circulated grades trade a modest premium over melt. Charlotte, Dahlonega and Carson City coins and the keys above are priced by collectors; we do not publish collector prices.