Half eagle
United States | |
| Value | 5 U.S. dollars (face value) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25 mm (0.98 in) (1795–1829) 23.8 mm (0.94 in) (1829–1834) 22.5 mm (0.89 in) (1834–1840) 21.6 mm (0.85 in) (after 1840) |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Composition | 91.67% Au, 3% Ag, 5.33% Cu (1795–1834) 89.92% Au, 10.08% Ag & Cu (1834–1837) 90% Au, 10% Cu (after 1837) |
| Years of minting | 1795–1929 (circulating) 1983–present (bullion coin) |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | Classic Head |
| Designer | William Kneass |
| Design used | 1834–1839 |
| Reverse | |
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The half eagle is a United States coin that was produced for circulation from 1795 to 1929 and in commemorative and bullion coins since 1983. Composed almost entirely of gold, its face value of five dollars is half that of the eagle coin. Production of the half eagle was authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, and it was the first gold coin minted by the United States.