1838 Half Eagle Die Trial - J-A1838-6

Coin Details

Auction Record

$17,250 MS65 01-04-2006 Heritage Auctions

Description

This die trial is from the dies of an 1838 Classic Head half eagle ($5 gold coin), the final year of the Classic Head design before the introduction of the Liberty Head type in 1839. The Classic Head half eagle, designed by William Kneass and introduced in 1834, was created specifically for the reduced-weight gold coinage mandated by the Gold Coinage Act of June 28, 1834. The new law lowered the gold content of American coins to bring their face value into alignment with their metal value, ending the chronic hoarding and melting that had plagued gold coinage since the 1790s. The obverse features a left-facing Liberty wearing a headband inscribed "LIBERTY," a simpler and more classical design than the elaborate Capped Bust motif it replaced. The reverse displays a spread eagle without the earlier heraldic embellishments. The 1838 Philadelphia mintage was 286,588 pieces in gold, produced alongside the first coins from the newly opened branch mints at Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dahlonega, Georgia. This die trial, cataloged as Judd-A1838-6, was struck to test the Philadelphia dies and represents one of the last impressions from the Classic Head design. Die trials of gold denominations in any metal are particularly scarce because the Mint focused its gold die testing on minimal impressions necessary for quality assurance.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Die trials of Classic Head half eagles are seldom encountered, with most dates known in only one to three specimens.

Cross References

Judd-A1838-6