Liberty Head $5
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Spanning 1839 to 1908, the Liberty Head $5 catalog contains 261 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 1874 Liberty Head $5 at just 20 struck and the highest-value variant is the 1854-S Liberty Head $5 at up to $4,200,000 in top grade.
Liberty Head $5 · All Strikes Mintage by Year
Peak 6.7MCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Liberty Head $5
The Liberty Head $5 coin was minted by the United States Mint starting in 1839 and ending in 1908. It was designed by Christian Gobrecht and bears the inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the reverse just above the "5". The obverse, or front of the coin, features the image of Liberty facing left, wearing a coronet inscribed with the word "LIBERTY". Her hair is gathered in a cap with a Liberty pole and a bundle of sticks, often referred to as “fasces” and symbolizing unity and strength. Just below Liberty's neck is the date of minting.
Most Liberty Head five-dollar coins were made of gold between 1839 and 1908 melted down from private deposits in goldsmiths banks and the U.S. Treasury. The coins were minted in small denominations, usually in quarter-dollar values, until 1864 when larger denominations of $1, $2 ½ and $5 were produced. In 1866 and 1876, a new design was used on the coins with a different Liberty on the obverse and a smaller star reverse.
The Liberty Head $5 was the first five-dollar coin issued by the United States. Its metal content was 90 percent gold, 10 percent copper. It was not replaced by another five-dollar gold coin until 1907, when the Indian Head $5 was released. There were two distinct types of Liberty Head fives issued—one from 1839 to 1866 and one from 1866 to 1908.
The Liberty Head $5 coin from 1839 to 1866 is the most valuable of the two types and usually sells for the highest prices.
Minted from 1866 to 1908, the second type has the same obverse (front) but a smaller star on the reverse, and usually sells for less. It is estimated that about 1.4 million Liberty Head fives were minted between 1839 and 1908, with only a few surviving in excellent condition.
The Liberty Head $5 is considered one of the most beautiful coins ever minted and is highly sought after by coin collectors. Those interested in owning one should expect to pay a premium price due to the rarity.
Most-collected Liberty Head $5 coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Liberty Head $5 coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Liberty Head $5 minted?
- The Liberty Head $5 was minted by United States from 1839 to 1908.
- How many Liberty Head $5 coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 60,733,404 Liberty Head $5 coins were struck.
- What mintmarks exist for the Liberty Head $5?
- Liberty Head $5 coins were struck with the following mintmarks: C, CC, D, DA, O, S. Some years were also produced without a mintmark.
- What is the Liberty Head $5 made of?
- The Liberty Head $5 is made of gold (.900) (.100 copper), weighs 8.359 grams, and measures 21.6 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Liberty Head $5 worth?
- Value depends on year, mintmark, and condition. Common dates in average circulated condition trade for near face value, while the rarest varieties in top grade can fetch up to $4,200,000. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.