1851 Liberty Gold Dollar

About This Coin

The 1851 Liberty Gold Dollar is a United States dollar from the Liberty Head Gold Dollars 1849-1854 series. The obverse features Liberty facing left wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, encircled by a wreath, while the reverse displays a wreath enclosing the denomination 1 DOLLAR and the date. Designed by James Barton Longacre. Struck in 90% gold, 10% copper, weighing 1.7 grams, 12.7 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. The Gold Dollar was introduced following the California Gold Rush discovery of 1848, which flooded the market with gold and made a one-dollar gold coin practical. The Liberty Head (Type 1) was the smallest diameter U.S. coin ever produced at just 13mm. The tiny size makes high-grade examples scarce — many were lost, holed for jewelry, or heavily worn. The 1849-C Open Wreath is a key date.