Pre-33 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle
| Dealer | Price | Premium | Stock | Updated | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAPMEXBest | $1,155.40 | +2.2% over spot | In stock | 4 hours ago | |
HBHero Bullion | $1,160.86 | +2.7% over spot | In stock | 4 hours ago | |
MMMonument Metals | $1,171.58 | +3.7% over spot | In stock | 4 hours ago |
- AAPMEXBest$1,155.40+2.2% over spotIn stock4 hours agoView Deal
- HBHero Bullion$1,160.86+2.7% over spotIn stock4 hours agoView Deal
- MMMonument Metals$1,171.58+3.7% over spotIn stock4 hours agoView Deal
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Specifications
- Weight
- 0.2419 oz
- Purity
- .9
- Mint
- US Mint
- Country
- United States
- First struck
- 1839
About the Pre-33 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle
The $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle is one of the longest-running gold coin designs in U.S. history. Christian Gobrecht's Liberty portrait debuted in 1839 and stayed on the half eagle denomination for nearly 70 years, until Bela Lyon Pratt's incuse Indian Head replaced it in 1908.
Every coin contains 0.2419 troy oz of pure gold, alloyed to .900 fine with copper for durability. Total weight runs about 8.359 grams, diameter 21.6 mm. The composition is the same standard used across the Liberty gold series, from the quarter eagle up to the double eagle.
Two major sub-types exist within the run. The 1839 to 1866 "No Motto" variety carries no IN GOD WE TRUST on the reverse. From 1866 onward, the motto sits on a banner above the eagle. Collectors track both, but for stackers buying by weight, the difference is mostly cosmetic.
These coins circulated. Most surviving pieces show genuine wear, which is why dealers price them as semi-numismatic bullion rather than mint-state collectibles. You're paying close to gold content plus a modest premium for the history and the smaller-format AGW.
Liquidity is the trade-off. The half eagle is harder to source than $20 Saint-Gaudens or $10 Liberty pieces, and dealer inventory rotates. When you find one priced near melt, it tends to move quickly.
For a U.S. pre-1933 gold buyer, the $5 Liberty fills a specific slot: the smallest practical Liberty-design fractional, with real circulated character and a fixed AGW you can calculate against spot any day of the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the current premium on Pre-33 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle?
The lowest premium right now is +2.2% over spot at APMEX ($1,155.40). The table above ranks every dealer by premium so the best deal is at the top.
Which dealer has the cheapest Pre-33 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle?
APMEX currently has the lowest total price at $1,155.40. We compare every dealer on a freshness-filtered 24-hour window so rankings reflect live market prices.
How often do prices update?
Dealer prices refresh hourly. Spot metal reference refreshes every 10 minutes. The "last seen" timestamp on each listing tells you exactly when that price was captured.