The early half eagle carried a right-facing capped Liberty and changed from a small eagle to a heraldic eagle reverse during the Mint's first gold era.

This guide follows the local catalog's Draped Bust $5 label for 1795–1807 and preserves its two reverse types and all issue records.

Core specifications

Issue period
1795–1807
Catalog mints
1
Reported catalog mintage
335,388
Composition
92% Gold - 8% Silver and Copper
Diameter
25 mm
Weight
8.75 g

Five dollars becomes the Mint's practical gold workhorse

The half eagle was the first gold denomination delivered by the young Philadelphia Mint and became more practical to produce than the larger eagle.

Scot's reverse change and overlapping 1795 dates show why the series must be read by die and type, not date alone.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

A capped Liberty faces right with stars around and the date below.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

The first type shows a small eagle in a wreath; the second uses a heraldic eagle with shield, clouds, and stars.

Where the cataloged coins were made

Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.

  • P — Philadelphia: 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807; 335,388. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.

Representative issues that explain the series

A two-reverse type set is the natural framework, but both are high-value specialist coins where surface and planchet quality matter strongly.

  • 1797 P - All Varieties — 3,609. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1798 P — 7. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1807 P — 32,488. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Issue catalog

1795 P Draped Bust $51796 P Draped Bust $5 - 6 Over 51797 P Draped Bust $5 - All Varieties1797 P Draped Bust $5 - 15 Stars1797 P Draped Bust $5 - 16 Stars1798 P Draped Bust $51795 P Draped Bust $5 - Large Eagle1797 P Draped Bust $5 - 16 Stars Obverse - Unique - Smithsonian Collection1797 P Draped Bust $5 - 15 Stars Obverse - Unique - Smithsonian Collection1797 P Draped Bust $5 - 7 Over 51798 P Draped Bust $5 - Small 81798 P Draped Bust $5 - Large 8 - 13 Star Reverse1798 P Draped Bust $5 - Large 8 - 14 Star Reverse1798 P Draped Bust $5 - All Varieties1799 P Draped Bust $51800 P Draped Bust $51802 P Draped Bust $5 - 2 Over 11803 P Draped Bust $5 - 3 Over 21804 P Draped Bust $5 - All Varieties1804 P Draped Bust $5 - Small 81804 P Draped Bust $5 - Small 8 Over Large 81805 P Draped Bust $51806 P Draped Bust $5 - Pointed 61806 P Draped Bust $5 - Round 61807 P Draped Bust $5

From one type coin to a complete catalog

  • One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
  • Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
  • Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 25 issue records, 0 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. Gold Eagle Coins and Their History — United States Mint
  2. Draped Bust $5 category reference — PCGS CoinFacts