Half Eagle Type Set, Circulation Strikes (1795-1929)

The half eagle was the workhorse denomination in United States gold coinage, just like the half dollar was in its day (today, the quarter is the highest denomination coin usually seen in commerce). As with all the early gold issues, all the Draped Bust and Capped Bust types are scarce to very rare and usually are only seen in circulated or the lower grades of Uncirculated. With patience and a decent bankroll, one can complete the half eagle type set. The nine major types of half eagles are all popular with collectors, so when higher grade examples appear, expect spirited competition for them. The full type set is impressive and many collectors go on to complete some of the series by date (or even by variety), as gold has been popular, even before gold coins were first issued around twenty seven hundred years ago!