View All 1842 Liberty Head Half Eagle

1842 (D) Liberty Head Half Eagle - Small Date

Strike Type
1842 (D) Gold Half Eagle coin

Coin Details

Year
1842
Denomination
Gold Half Eagle
Mint Mark
D
Strike Type
Regular Strike
Series
Liberty Head Half Eagles 1839-1908
Designer
Christian Gobrecht
Mintage
37,917
Composition
90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight
8.36g
Diameter
21.65mm
Edge
Reeded

Value Estimates

$3,991 - $37,812

Values as of May 2026 — estimates reflect typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.

Auction Record

$112,750 MS62 05-01-1995 Stack's

Description

Part of the Liberty Head Half Eagles 1839-1908 series, the 1842 (D) Liberty Head Half Eagle - Small Date is a Gold Half Eagle from the Dahlonega Mint. With a mintage of 37,917, this is a scarce issue — the highest mintage among 7 variants, accounting for 24% of the year's production. The obverse features Liberty facing left wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY and the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. Both large and small letter varieties exist at some mints. Charlotte and Dahlonega issues are scarce. Coined at the Dahlonega Mint, a small Georgia facility that produced gold coins from local deposits for just 23 years before the Civil War. Estimated market value ranges from $4.0K to $38K depending on grade and condition. Struck in 90% gold, 10% copper, weighing 8.36 grams, 21.65 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Cataloged as PCGS #8210.

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