1863 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

The 1863 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin was struck at two facilities; the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. The Philadelphia mint, which usually struck a limited number of proof coins during the era, struck only proofs for the 1863 gold coin, resulting in a very tiny Philadelphia gold coin mintage for that year. The 1863 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins are a top collector item among numismatists who enjoy 19th-century coins.
Of course, as is true of most coins as old as the Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins, the condition of the coin in question means everything to collectors. This is why you will see collectors paying top-dollar for those gold coins in excellent condition. In addition, multiple different types of Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins were produced every year, so that also plays a role in determining how much you will pay for one of these coins.

Grading the 1863 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

For coins as old as the 1863 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin, you really have to look at the condition the coin is in. These coins have collector value regardless of condition, but it is only the coins that are in pristine condition that are desired by collectors. Finding these well-preserved coins is not such an easy task when you consider how long ago they were minted.

When you are judging the condition of a coin, you are really giving the coin a grade. Though grading is performed most often by a professional company, you can use the specifications below to gain a better idea as to what a graded Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin might look like.

Uncirculated: This is the type of graded Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin that every collector is trying to get their hands on. These coins, by nature, were never sent onto the open market to exchange hands and, as such, did not incur much of any damage during their lifetime. Just one look at these coins and you will think that it was minted last week, not over 150 years ago.

Extremely Fine: Extremely Fine Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins are also a prized catch for collectors, but these coins will show some light damage. To be given this grade, the coin in question will have very minimal scratching and will appear mostly pristine. It is only under close inspection that you can see the coin’s imperfections.

Fine: Coin’s given this grade are those that have been circulated for an extended period of time. These coins will show plenty of scratching, but not so much so that the integrity of the inscriptions or imagery is compromised.

Good: This is the grade given to most Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins on the market today. These coins will have been fairly heavily circulated and will play host to a lot of scratching and other blemishes. For collectors, these coins are often overlooked in lieu of pieces that have been better-preserved.

Pricing the 1863 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

To get a good idea of what you might expect to pay for a 1863 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin, you must take into account the coin’s condition. Collectors will look for coins in excellent condition, and these coins often sell for higher premiums than similar coins in a lesser condition. The chart below will help you get an idea of what you might expect to pay for a 1863 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin depending on its condition.

Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1863 Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin (S)	N/A	N/A	$1,350	$3,500
Source: Red Book