1850 Mormon Five Dollar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$129,250 MS62 04-26-2015 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1850 Mormon Gold Half Eagle represents the second year of production at the Deseret Mint, demonstrating the continued operation of Brigham Young's territorial coinage program into the following year. The 1850 issue maintained the established design format while benefiting from the experience gained during the first year of minting operations. The 1850 five-dollar piece carries the same iconic Mormon gold design elements: "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" with the All-Seeing Eye and bishop's mitre on the obverse, and the clasped hands with "PURE GOLD" and denomination on the reverse. The consistency of design across years and denominations was intentional, establishing the Mormon gold coins as an immediately recognizable and trustworthy medium of exchange within the Latter-day Saint community. By 1850, the Deseret Mint had been operating for approximately one year, and the coining equipment and die-cutting techniques had improved from the initial production. However, the fundamental challenges of operating a mint on the frontier — limited metallurgical expertise, primitive equipment, and variable-quality gold feedstock — continued to affect the coins' overall fineness and appearance. The 1850 half eagle is considerably scarcer than its 1849 counterpart, suggesting reduced production in the second year.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Significantly scarcer than the 1849 half eagle, with fewer than 15 surviving examples known.