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1852 Half Eagle - No Motto $5 NGC AU58 1852 Half Eagle - No Motto $5 NGC AU58 1852 $5 SKU: 3225824010-1 ITEM SPECIFICS PCGS #8250 Grading ServiceNGC GradeAU58 Mint LocationPhiladelphia Year1852 DesignationNONE StrikeBusiness Grade Add OnNONE Description
A handsome near-Mint State survivor from the Gold Rush era, this 1852 Liberty Head Half Eagle offers strong eye appeal, desirable AU58 certification, and classic No Motto type appeal.
The obverse features Christian Gobrecht’s Liberty facing left, her coronet inscribed LIBERTY, surrounded by 13 stars with the date 1852 below. The reverse displays the heraldic eagle with shield, olive branch, and arrows, encircled by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination FIVE D. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this issue bears no mintmark, as expected for Philadelphia coinage of the period. As a No Motto half eagle, the reverse predates the addition of IN GOD WE TRUST, which would not appear on the denomination until 1866.
Certified by NGC as AU58, this piece sits at the upper threshold of About Uncirculated preservation and presents much of the visual character collectors seek in Mint State examples. Warm honey-gold and orange-gold color enhances both sides, with ample remaining luster evident around the devices and protected areas. Light, even friction is confined primarily to the highest points of Liberty’s hair and the eagle’s plumage, while the strike is pleasingly sharp for the type. Scattered fine contact marks and light handling are consistent with the assigned grade and do little to diminish the coin’s overall charm.
The 1852 half eagle was struck during one of the most important periods in American gold coinage. In the wake of the California Gold Rush, half eagles served as a central denomination in commerce, and many circulated extensively or were later melted. The Liberty Head $5 series remains one of the cornerstone collecting areas in 19th-century U.S. gold, valued both for its historical resonance and its long, varied run across multiple mints.
NGC lists 260 examples at the AU58 level, making this grade a popular and competitive choice for collectors who appreciate near-Mint quality without the premium commanded by fully Mint State coins. As a Philadelphia No Motto type coin with strong color, attractive detail, and trusted third-party certification, this 1852 Half Eagle is well suited for an advanced type set, Liberty Head gold collection, or historically focused U.S. gold cabinet.
An appealing and sharply presented example of a classic pre-Civil War gold issue, this 1852 $5 Liberty Half Eagle combines history, quality, and enduring collector demand.
