PCGS Coin Facts
Your Online Reference for U.S. Coins
Home
FAQ
About PCGS CoinFacts
Contact Us
PCGS
Home
Gold Coins
Liberty Head $5
Type 1, No Motto
« Prev Coin (1839-C $5 )
Next Coin (1840 $5 ) »
Feedback
Leave Comment
X
Leave Comment
Save
SERIES:
Liberty Head $5 1839-1908
LEVEL:
Year, MintMark, & Major Variety
1839-D $5 (Regular Strike)
View All Coin Images
PCGS AU58
PCGS AU58
PCGS AU53
PCGS #:
8193
Diameter:
22.50 millimeters
Designer:
Christian Gobrecht
Weight:
8.24 grams
Edge:
Reeded
Mintage:
18,939
Metal Content:
90% Gold, 10% Copper
Auction Record:
$30,550 • PCGS AU58 • 6-21-2017 • Stack's/Bowers
Go To Grade
4
6
8
10
12
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
45+
50
50+
53
53+
55
55+
58
58+
60
61
62
Show Plus Grades
4
1,100
1
4
6
1,250
1
02/12 EB
$1,589
6
8
1,500
1
02/13 HA
$887
8
10
1,650
3
10
12
2,200
2
03/09 HA
$1,610
12
15
2,450
5
02/05 GO
$1,955
15
20
3,100
5
07/13 SB
$2,585
06/13 HA
$2,350
11/12 HA
$3,290
20
25
3,750
9
11/15 DL
$3,355
08/10 HA
$2,760
05/99 BM
$1,725
04/11 HA
$3,401
03/10 HA
$2,530
25
30
4,250
10
08/91 MA
$1,210
02/99 HA
$1,380
30
35
5,250
14
10/16 HA
$4,935
08/07 HA
$3,738
02/01 HA
$1,178
01/01 BM
$1,495
09/97 HA
$1,667
01/09 HA
$2,530
01/05 HA
$2,530
35
40
6,000
20
02/13 DL
$4,300
01/13 HA
$4,113
01/10 HA
$3,738
10/06 HA
$4,025
07/94 HA
$2,310
03/18 KA
$4,200
11/14 HA
$2,350
04/11 HA
$4,744
07/09 HA
$3,450
02/07 HA
$2,875
$5,750
C26
40
45
7,250
20
03/17 SB
$6,463
02/17 HA
$6,463
07/10 EB
$4,703
06/10 HA
$5,175
03/00 ST
$2,875
03/15 HA
$4,700
01/02 HA
$2,415
45
45+
7,650
45+
50
9,750
11
06/13 HA
$8,225
01/13 HA
$4,406
10/12 HA
$11,163
09/12 HA
$7,990
08/11 SB
$7,360
02/17 HA
$8,225
01/17 HA
$11,750
10/10 HA
$6,325
07/08 ST
$7,475
05/04 BM
$4,428
50
50+
10,000
50+
53
12,000
10
01/17 HA
$8,813
09/13 HA
$9,400
08/12 SB
$9,200
09/07 ST
$9,488
10/99 BM
$7,015
04/13 HA
$8,225
06/00 SU
$4,542
05/00 ST
$4,600
03/00 SU
$4,830
53
53+
13,000
$15,050
CC1
53+
55
17,500
11
10/16 HA
$16,450
04/16 HA
$14,100
04/11 HA
$13,225
08/09 BM
$10,063
05/07 HA
$16,100
10/08 HA
$9,020
01/05 HA
$9,775
01/05 HA
$6,325
06/04 HA
$6,613
01/04 HA
$7,475
55
55+
18,000
55+
58
27,500
7
06/17 SB
$30,550
05/16 SB
$21,150
06/13 GC
$17,380
05/07 HA
$16,100
10/99 BM
$11,500
12/14 HA
$17,625
02/11 GO
$13,800
09/10 GO
$14,375
01/10 ST
$16,100
07/08 ST
$18,400
58
58+
28,500
58+
60
32,500
3
60
61
37,500
2
11/00 BM
$25,300
08/11 SB
$18,400
01/04 HA
$18,400
01/03 HA
$16,100
10/00 HA
$9,775
61
62
47,500
2
01/04 HA
$28,750
08/99 HA
$19,550
05/95 ST
$24,200
62
Price Guide
PCGS Population
Auction Results - PCGS Graded
Auction Results - NGC Graded
Current Auctions - PCGS Graded
Current Auctions - NGC Graded
For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded
For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - NGC Graded
Rarity and Survival Estimates (
Explain
)
Grades
Survival
Estimate
Numismatic
Rarity
Relative Rarity
By Type
Relative Rarity
By Series
All Grades
150
R-7.5
49 / 112 TIE
79 / 218 TIE
60 or Better
7
R-9.6
44 / 112 TIE
71 / 218 TIE
65 or Better
0
R-10.1
1 / 112
1 / 218
Condition Census (
Explain
)
Show more rows
Pos
Grade
Thumbnail
Pedigree and History
1
MS62 PCGS grade
1
MS62 PCGS grade
3
MS61 PCGS grade
3
MS61 PCGS grade
5
MS60 PCGS grade
Condition Census (
Explain
)
Show fewer rows
Pos
Grade
Thumbnail
Pedigree and History
1
MS62 PCGS grade
1
MS62 PCGS grade
3
MS61 PCGS grade
3
MS61 PCGS grade
5
MS60 PCGS grade
5
MS60 PCGS grade
5
MS60 PCGS grade
5
MS60 estimated grade
5
MS60 estimated grade
5
MS60 estimated grade
Doug Winter
: The 1839-D is a very important and distinct one year type coin. After Mint Engraver William Kneass was incapacitated in 1838, he was replaced by Christian Gobrecht. The new design for the three circulating gold coins of this era can be first seen on the 1838 eagle and, in 1839, on the quarter eagle and half eagle.
The Liberty head motif on the 1839-D half eagle is significantly different from that found on the 1840-1861 issues. On the 1839-D, the neck truncation is distinctly curved and it is positioned so that the back of the right side is far from the thirteenth star. On the redesigned head of 1840, the neck truncation is less curved and the back of the neck is closer to the thirteenth star. In addition, the top of Liberty’s bun is closer to the tenth star on the 1840-D than it is on the 1839-D. Most importantly, the mintmark is found on the obverse as on the 1838-D; beginning in 1840, it is found on the reverse.
The 1839-D half eagle is most often seen in Very Fine to Extremely Fine grades. It is quite rare in About Uncirculated-50 and it is very rare in the higher About Uncirculated grades. Mint State 1839-D half eagles are extremely rare.
STRIKE: The quality of strike differs greatly from coin to coin. There are two varieties known and one of these is typically weakly struck while the other usually shows a sharper strike (see Die Varieties, below, for more information). Many 1839-D half eagles have weakness of strike on the hair near the ear of Liberty, the brow and the back of the bun. The reverse is always sharper than the obverse and it usually shows complete definition, even on the legs and claws of the eagle. Some are known which show a very sharp strike on both the obverse and the reverse and these are considered to be very desirable by specialists.
SURFACES: The quality of the planchets used to strike 1839-D half eagles was not very good. It is common to find examples with mint-made areas of roughness. This is especially true in the obverse fields which may have a pockmarked appearance. Many have liberally abraded surfaces but it is not impossible to locate a coin that does not show an abundance of marks. The E in LIBERTY is strongly doubled at its base and this serves as a good hallmark of authenticity.
LUSTER: The luster has a distinctive grainy appearance. This graininess is often more pronounced at the border than at the center.
COLORATION: On uncleaned pieces, the coloration ranges from deep green-gold to a rich yellow-golden hue. The coloration has a distinctive appearance which is considerably different from other Dahlonega half eagles of this era. Very few 1839-D half eagles are known with original coloration.
EYE APPEAL: High grade 1839-D half eagles can be among the prettiest of all Dahlonega coins. A small number of extremely pleasing pieces exist which show good luster, lovely coloration, relatively few marks and sharp strikes. However, the level of eye appeal for most examples is only average. The typical piece offered to collectors has concentrated marks including mint-made planchet flaws, poor luster and softness at the obverse center.
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS: For collectors who like original coins, locating a truly choice 1839-D half eagle can prove to be very frustrating.
DIE VARIETIES: There are two die varieties known.
Variety 1-A: On this variety the mintmark is directly over the 3 in the date and it is centered between the neck and the top of the 3. This variety often shows weakness of strike at the center of the obverse.
This is the rarer of the two varieties by a fairly substantial margin.
Variety 2-A: On this variety the mintmark is over the 39 in the date and it is centered in the field with the left edge of the D over the center of the 3.
This is the more common of the two varieties.
David Akers (1975/88)
: As a date, the 1839-D is only slightly less rare than the 1839-C and the 1838-C. It is more rare than the 1838-D in all grades and it is extremely rare in high grade. Virtually all known specimens are in the VF to EF range and the number of AU or Unc. examples in existence is very small. Like the 1839-C, this date is very popular with collectors because of its rarity, the fact it was struck at the Dahlonega Mint, and the obverse location of the mintmark.
Coin Types
Cents
Two & Three Cents
Nickels
Dimes
Quarters
Half Dollars
Dollars
Gold Coins
Commemoratives
American Eagles
Colonials
Territorials
Patterns
Related CoinFacts Sites
PCGS.com
- The Numismatic Information Highway Starts Here
Collectors Corner
- Buy Online from Top Dealers.
Certified Coin Exchange
- Dealer-To- Dealer Trading.
Coin Guide
- Learn More About Buying and Selling Coins.
CoinFacts Numismatic Wiki
- Participate Now in YOUR New Wiki