1855 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

The 1855 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins were designed by Christian Gobrecht and were struck at 3 minting facilities; Philadelphia, Charlotte (C), and Dahlonega (D), with by far most coming from the Philadelphia mint. Considering all 1855 gold coins are scarce, those struck at the Charlotte and Dahlonega mints are the rarest in terms of overall current population numbers; these coins were not saved in vast quantities to begin with, most having later been lost or melted.

The Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin features the obverse (front) Lady Liberty, whose hair is worn in a tight bun secured by a string of beads with loose curls hanging down her neck. She is wearing a coronet inscribed with the word ‘Liberty’; 13 stars representing the 13 original colonies and the date of issue surround her. The reverse (back) features a proud bald eagle with wings spread, standing among olive branches. The eagle clinches three arrows in his talons, and has a shield featuring stars and stripes upon his chest. The words ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’, the denomination, and the Mint Mark surround the eagle.

Grading the 1855 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

Coins that are assigned a grade by a professional grading company are put through a rigorous grading process to verify their authenticity and metal content. Coins are also subjected to numerous visual inspections in order to make a determination on their overall condition. Even though the grading process follows some strict rules and guidelines, the coin’s final grade is the opinion of a team of expert coin graders. The better overall condition that the coin is in, the more valuable the coin may be. You can get a very good idea of how your coin might be graded by performing a close and thorough inspection of your coin’s details, finish, color and edges.

Use the specifications below to determine how your Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin might be graded.

Uncirculated: Uncirculated coins are coins in excellent overall condition. These coins will appear as if they were just minted today. The coin’s images, text and other details will have clean and clear lines, and the coin will have retained its original texture. Many coins in this condition will also have largely retained their original color and finish, while some may have very slight differences in color or finish. You can simply use a magnifying glass to examine your coin’s details. Using a magnifying glass will enable you to see if the details remain clear and crisp, or if any wear has taken place.

Extremely Fine: Coins that are extremely fine are also in excellent overall condition. This grade is one below uncirculated, and coins in this condition will have few imperfections. The coin may have very small blemishes on the images or text, while the color or finish may appear slightly off. Even though these coins are a little farther from perfect condition, they are still quite stunning and look almost new.

Fine: Coins that are assigned a grade of fine are another step down the grading scale, and may exhibit more wear and tear. The coin’s details may have noticeable signs of damage or erosion, and the coin’s color and finish may even appear to be dull.

Good: Coins assigned a grade of good are even further down the grading scale. Coins in this condition may have very significant surface damage to the images, text or edges. Sometimes this damage can make it impossible to make out the coin’s details or even identify the coin without a visual aid. While coins in good condition may be very worn or eroded, they can still be very valuable if they are scarce or certain types of coins.

Pricing the 1855 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

When it comes to finding out a price for the Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin, you are to look at two main things before anything else. For one, it is important to assess the condition of the coin. Since Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins that have been well-preserved sell for the highest prices, the condition matters a lot. Also, because more than one type of coin was produced each year, the specific type will also play into the price. Below is a chart that outlines how much you can expect to pay for a 1855 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin given its type and condition.