1813 $5 Capped Gold Bust NGC MS62

Introduction

The 1813 $5 Capped Head Gold Half Eagle graded NGC MS62 is an impressive Mint State example from the early years of United States gold coinage. Certified MS62 by Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), this Philadelphia Mint issue marks the debut of John Reich's redesigned Capped Head Half Eagle type. Struck more than two centuries ago and containing approximately .258 troy ounces of pure gold, the 1813 Half Eagle combines early American craftsmanship, historic significance, and the scarcity associated with surviving pre-1834 United States gold.

History

By 1813, the Half Eagle was the only United States gold denomination being produced. Eagle production had ceased after 1804, while no Quarter Eagles were struck from 1809 through 1820. That year, engraver John Reich substantially reworked his earlier Half Eagle design, eliminating Liberty's drapery, enlarging the portrait, and modifying elements of the reverse. The result established the Capped Head type that would continue, with later modifications, through 1834.

The Philadelphia Mint struck 95,428 Half Eagles in 1813, a substantial production for the period. Yet early United States gold coins faced extensive melting because their bullion value exceeded their face value in international markets, and many Half Eagles were exported or melted rather than remaining in domestic circulation. The 1813 survived in greater numbers than most later dates of the type and has become an important choice for collectors seeking a representative of this otherwise challenging early gold series. At NGC MS62, this example preserves the design in desirable Mint State condition.

Design

The obverse features Liberty facing left, wearing a cap with a band inscribed with LIBERTY. Thirteen stars representing the original states form an arc around the portrait, while the date 1813 appears below. Reich's redesigned portrait eliminated the drapery of his earlier Half Eagle design and placed greater emphasis on Liberty's head and cap.

The reverse depicts an eagle with outstretched wings and a shield across its breast, holding an olive branch and arrows as symbols of peace and military preparedness. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM appears on a ribbon above the eagle, while UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the design. The denomination 5 D. appears below, identifying the coin's five-dollar face value.