1833 $5 Capped Bust Half Eagle NGC AU58

Introduction

The 1833 $5 Capped Head Half Eagle graded NGC AU58 is a high-grade example of scarce early United States gold coinage. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in .9167 fine gold, this Half Eagle comes from a series whose surviving population was dramatically reduced by widespread melting. Its AU58 grade from Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) places it just below Mint State, with substantial original detail remaining.

History

The $5 Half Eagle was one of the original gold denominations authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792 and became an important part of early federal gold coinage. The Capped Head design represented the later evolution of the Capped Bust Half Eagle series and was struck during an era when the bullion value of U.S. gold coins often exceeded their face value, encouraging their export and melting.

The Philadelphia Mint struck 193,630 Half Eagles dated 1833 across the year's known date varieties. Despite this original production, surviving Capped Head Half Eagles are considerably scarcer today because large numbers were melted when their gold content became worth more than their face value. The following year, Congress changed the weight and fineness standards for U.S. gold coins, bringing the Capped Head Half Eagle era to an end and introducing the lighter Classic Head design.

Design

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a cap secured by a band inscribed with LIBERTY. Thirteen stars representing the original states surround the portrait, with the date 1833 positioned below.

The reverse features a heraldic eagle with a shield across its breast, an olive branch in one talon, and arrows in the other. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM appears on a scroll above the eagle, while UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the design. The denomination 5 D. appears below the eagle. As a Philadelphia Mint issue, the coin carries no mintmark.