Coin

5 Dollars Coronet Head - No motto (1859) — United States

United States • 1859 • KM# 69, PCGS# 8191-8194, 8196, etc.

5 Dollars Coronet Head - No motto (1859) — United States

Overview

A Proof strike gold 5 Dollars coin of the United States, known as the 'Coronet Head - No motto' type. Minted in 1859 at the United States Mint of Philadelphia with a limited mintage of 80 pieces. The obverse features Liberty (coronet head) left, designed by Christian Gobrecht. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle with a Union shield. Struck in Gold (.900) (.100 copper) with a reeded edge.

Specifications

Country
United States
Year
1859
Composition
Gold (.900) (.100 copper)
Weight
8.359 g
Diameter
22.5 mm
Mint
United States Mint of Philadelphia
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM# 69, PCGS# 8191-8194, 8196, etc.
Issuer
United States

Design details

Obverse

Liberty (coronet head) facing left, surrounded by 13 stars, with the date below.

Reverse

Heraldic eagle with Union shield and holding 3 arrows and an olive branch.

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Christian Gobrecht is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: United States Mint of Philadelphia. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 80 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
  • Gold issue: Gold (.900) (.100 copper) — bullion demand competes with numismatic demand. Weight and fineness (not just face value) drive the melt-value floor.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# 69, PCGS# 8191-8194, 8196, etc.. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

The 1859 Half Eagle belongs to the pre-Civil War era of the Coronet Head series, a period of steady economic expansion in the United States. During this time, the five-dollar gold piece played a vital role in domestic commerce and international exchange. This specific 1859 issue predates the 1866 addition of the motto 'In God We Trust' to the reverse design.

Design heritage

Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht designed the obverse featuring a Neoclassical profile of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with her name. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle with a Union shield, grasping three arrows and an olive branch, symbolizing the nation's readiness for defense and preference for peace. Gobrecht is well known for his work on the 'Gobrecht Dollar' and several other circulating gold and silver denominations of the 19th century.

Varieties and technical notes

This 1859 issue was produced as a Proof strike at the Philadelphia Mint, characterized by sharp strikes and reflective fields typical of the era's technical standards. Collectors should look for the reeded edge and the absence of a mint mark, which signifies its Philadelphia origin. As a specialized strike, researchers often inspect the precise alignment of the 13 stars and the date digits for diagnostic confirmation.

Survival and modern availability

With a confirmed mintage of only 80 units, this gold Proof is an extreme rarity of the early American gold series. Many examples were lost to circulation wear, private melts during the transition away from the gold standard, or the Gold Reserve Act of 1934. Today, very few specimens remain, appearing primarily in major auction venues and high-tier numismatic collections.

More from United States

Other 5 Dollars Coronet Head - No motto issues

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