$5 Pre-33 Gold Coins at JM Bullion

The $5 Pre-33 Gold Coin and its $2.50 Pre-33 Gold counterpart were part of the broader US Eagle denomination issued by the United States Mint between 1795 and 1933. The smaller denominations in the series were a common part of everyday circulation in America, particularly during the 19th century. Rare $5 Pre-33 Gold Coins exist across various eras of American history, from the California Gold Rush and the Civil War to the Industrial Age, the dawn of the 20th century, and even the Roaring 20s.

Most Common $5 Pre-33 Gold Designs

Though the $5 Pre-33 Gold Eagle was issued as early as 1795, surviving specimens from its first three design series are extremely rare due to lower mintages, the passing of time, and circulation wear. The more common designs include the following:

• Liberty Head: Issued from 1839-1908, this iconic coin holds the distinction of being the only US Eagle denomination struck by all seven current and historic branches of the US Mint: Philadelphia, Dahlonega (GA), Charlotte (NC), New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City (NV), and Denver. It featured designs by Christian Gobrecht, with Liberty on the obverse and the heraldic eagle on the reverse. The Type I coin (1839-1866) lacked the national motto, while the Type II coin (1866-1908) included the national motto.
• Indian Head: Designed by Bela Lyon Pratt and first issued in 1908, this final design in the series is notable for being the first-ever incuse struck coin in American history. His depiction of an indigenous chieftain on the obverse also marked the first departure from traditional Liberty designs on American coins.

Conditions Contributing to Rarity

Like other Pre-33 Gold Coins, the $5 Liberty Head and $5 Indian Head coins faced some common factors that contribute to their scarcity today. These include low mintage numbers in select years or at select mints, wear and tear in circulation, hoarding, and the government collection and melting of gold coins in late 1933 and into 1934.

A few unique factors also gave rise to the rarity of $5 Pre-33 Gold Coins. One notable factor is the cancellation of the program during World War I. Not only did the US Mint stop producing the coins during the war, but it resumed coining for only one year following the war, in 1929. During this time, hoarding and the use of gold in overseas transactions diminished the number of remaining specimens.

Other factors include the condition of the coin, with higher grades for surviving specimens significantly contributing to the value and rarity of any given piece. Proof versions struck by the mint are also considered quite rare as the mintage figures were very low for these pieces. Finally, any connection to significant events during the course of production (Gold rush in the Carolinas in the 1830s, California Gold Rush in 1848) or errors in the production process can result in coins that are considered rare due to their unique historical or visual appeal.

Collect $5 Pre-33 Gold Coins from JM Bullion

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