1857 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

The 1857 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coins were struck at four mint facilities; Philadelphia, Dahlonega (D), New Orleans (O), and San Francisco (S). The Philadelphia mint struck over 210,000 coins, while pieces from the Dahlonega mint were the scarcest for the year; Dahlonega mint coins were not saved in vast quantities to begin with, most having later been lost or melted.

The obverse (front) features 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 1857 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

The coin grading process is very thorough and rigorous. Although coins go through a subjective grading process, the final grade is determined by an expert coin grader. These expert coin graders carefully examine each coin to determine how well the coin has stood the test of time and to assess the coin’s overall condition. Like other types of coins, the better the overall condition, the more valuable the coin may be. You can get a good idea of a coin’s grade by carefully examining both sides of the coin and looking for any imperfections in the coin’s imagery, texture, wording, color or finish.

Use the specifications below to determine how your 1857 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin may be graded.

Uncirculated: An uncirculated 1857 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin shows no signs of wear or any imperfections. Although these coins are well over 100 years old, a coin in uncirculated condition will look as if it just came out of the mint’s presses. Uncirculated coins will have no visible wear and tear on the imagery or wording, although they may take on a slightly different color or tone due to their age. You can very simply use a magnifying glass to examine your coins. The magnifying glass makes it easy to scrutinize the coin’s images and details, and you can determine if some of the details have been worn away over time.

Extremely Fine: Just one step below uncirculated condition, an extremely fine Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin will show minor wear and tear on the coin’s images or wording. Some of the finer details of the coin may be worn due to age and exchanging hands over time. In addition, the coin’s texture may feel worn and smoother overall. Despite this, coins in extremely fine condition are considered to be in near-pristine condition and are still very beautiful.

Fine: A coin in fine condition has kept all of its details intact, and they are easily recognized. There are, however, visible signs of wear and tear on the coin’s obverse and reverse. Coin details such as text or images may be worn down and smooth and the coin’s finish may appear duller.

Good: A coin in good condition has very significant signs of wear and tear, and you may need a magnifying glass in order to determine the coin type, mint year and other information. While coins in good condition are nowhere near mint grade, they are often times still very popular among collectors and investors due to potential scarcity and difficulty in obtaining.

Pricing the 1857 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin

When it comes to determining a price for a 1857 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin, there are a few aspects of the coin that you must first consider. For one, because there were multiple editions of the gold coin were minted every year, the exact type of coin you possess will play heavily into the asking price. Secondly, the condition of the coin means everything to collectors. Knowing this, it goes without saying that those well-preserved pieces are going to sell for more than coins that have been heavily damaged. The chart below aims to give you a better understanding of what you might be asked to pay for a 1857 Liberty Head $2.50 Gold Coin given its type and condition.