1860 Half Eagle Die Trial - J-A1860-6

Coin Details

Auction Record

$7,800 MS64BN 04-25-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This copper die trial of an 1860 half eagle ($5 gold coin) documents the dies used for one of the Philadelphia Mint's regular-issue gold denominations. The obverse features James Barton Longacre's Liberty Head design — a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed "LIBERTY," surrounded by thirteen stars with the date 1860 below. The reverse displays the spread eagle with shield, olive branch, and arrows, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" above and "FIVE D." below. The year 1860 was notable for the half eagle denomination: Philadelphia struck 19,825 pieces, while the branch mints at San Francisco (21,200), Charlotte (14,813), Dahlonega (14,635), and New Orleans (13,220) also produced coins, creating an active multi-mint production year. This copper die trial was struck at Philadelphia to test the dies before gold coining operations commenced. Half eagles had been struck continuously since 1795 and were one of the most widely used gold denominations in American commerce. By 1860, the eve of the Civil War, gold coinage production patterns were about to change dramatically as the war disrupted normal Mint operations.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Copper die trials of Liberty Head half eagles are scarce for any date, typically known in one to three specimens.

Cross References

Judd-A1860-6