The 1901 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins are popular with coin collectors and bullion investors alike and are very popular pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. The U.S. Mint struck 91,000 pieces, an enormous number in relation to the much smaller outputs of the 1880s and 1890s. Still, far fewer of these coins survive today, which is the situation with most pre-1933 U.S. gold coin issues, which were melted by the millions after the nation left the gold standard.
Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the 1901 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins are made from a standard “coin gold” composition of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper. They also weigh 4.18 grams and measure 18 millimeters in diameter, which approximately compares to the breadth of a standard U.S. dime. 1874 gold quarter eagles contain a total of 0.1202 ounces of gold.
When it comes to the Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin, the first thing any collector will look at is the condition the coin is in. These coins are quite old, so it comes as no surprise that many of them are in poor shape after having been circulated for decades at a time. While many Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins are found in poor condition, many more are found excellently preserved.
Normally, a person who would like to know the exact condition of a coin will send it away for grading. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time and money laying around to send a coin away for grading, so we have provided below a list of specifications that will help you understand what characteristics are tied to coins of specific grades.
Uncirculated: A Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin that is graded as being Uncirculated is one that spent no time exchanging hands and never had the opportunity to incur damage. These coins will appear to be wholly pristine as their imagery and inscriptions will be left untouched. For being decades old, an Uncirculated Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin will more aptly resemble a coin that was just recently minted.
Extremely Fine: Extremely Fine is the grade given to Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins that have been circulated for a small amount of time. During their short time exchanging hands, the amount of damage incurred by these coins is going to be very light. In fact, any damage that is on the faces of the coin will only be able to be seen under close inspection.
Fine: A coin graded to be Fine is one that spent a decent amount of time being circulated, but was taken out of circulation before heavy damage occurred. Though you will be able to make out a lot of light scratching, the coin’s overall appearance is not completely detracted by the wear. Overall, Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins graded as being Fine are highly sought after by collectors of all types.
Good: This is the grade given to Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins that are in the worst of the worst condition. These coins spent a long time in circulation and have incurred a lot of damage as a result. Though in poor condition, collectors who are looking to piece together an entire set of Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins will still want to get their hands on even a Good graded coin.
When it comes to assigning a nominal value to the Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin, this is something that comes down to the coin’s condition/grade. Naturally the more well-preserved a coin is, the more it will be worth. With coins as old as the Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin, even the smallest changes in condition can mean large changes in value. Below, there is a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what an Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin will cost given its grade/condition.
Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin
DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
---|---|---|---|---|
1901 Liberty Head $2.5 Gold Coin | N/A | N/A | $340 | $350 | Source: Red Book |