The ONLY Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair On A Dime & Nickel Planchet NGC PF65 UNIQUE
US $50,000
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1842 $5 Small Letters Liberty Head Half Eagle PCGS AU55 (CAC)
US $11,072
Grade
Add On NONE
Grading service
PCGS
Cert number
53727266
Certification
—
Date
2026-06-09
Category
—
Sub category
—
Dealer
Description
1842 $5 Small Letters Liberty Head Half Eagle PCGS AU55 (CAC)
PCGS # 8207
Grading Service PCGS
Grade AU55
Mint Location Philadelphia
Year 1842
Designation
Strike Business
Grade Add On NONE
1842 $5 Small Letters Liberty Head Half Eagle PCGS AU55 (CAC)
1842 $5 Small Letters
SKU: 53727266
An exceptional opportunity to acquire a scarce, collector-favorite Liberty Head Half Eagle: the 1842 $5 “Small Letters” from the Philadelphia Mint, certified PCGS AU55 and approved by CAC. This is a classic early-19th-century U.S. gold issue with strong market demand, and in About Uncirculated condition it becomes particularly desirable for collectors building type sets, Liberty Head gold sets, or date-and-variety Half Eagle collections.
Coin details and attribution
Date and denomination: 1842 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle
Mint: Philadelphia
Variety: Small Letters reverse
Certification: PCGS AU55
CAC: Yes
Rarity and collector context
Contrary to a common misconception, the 1842 Small Letters is not inherently rarer than the Large Letters variety overall; auction records and specialist experience consistently show the Large Letters to be the tougher coin across grades. That said, the 1842 Small Letters remains a genuinely rare early Half Eagle in its own right, especially in higher grades. Most surviving examples trade in VF to EF, making AU and Mint State coins decidedly elusive and strongly pursued when offered.
Population (certified)
PCGS Population: 4
PCGS Higher: 9
PCGS Coin Number: 27578
NGC: N/A
Variety diagnostics: Small Letters reverse
The “Small Letters” reverse is defined by compact, squared lettering punches that are about as wide as they are tall. This contrasts clearly with the Large Letters reverse, where the letters are taller, appear significantly larger, and crowd toward the rim. For collectors who value accurate attribution, the Small Letters diagnostics are an important part of this coin’s identity and long-term desirability.
Eye appeal and surfaces
This example displays a dominant gold surface color complemented by darker coppery-red accents within the engravings and around the raised design elements, creating an attractive, rich appearance. The overall look is consistent with a carefully preserved About Uncirculated Liberty Head gold coin and offers the kind of visual depth that collectors seek in pre-Civil War U.S. gold.
Why this coin belongs in a serious collection
Scarce in AU: a genuinely difficult grade level for the 1842 Small Letters Half Eagle
CAC-approved quality: adds confidence for collectors focused on originality and premium examples
Important variety within a foundational U.S. gold series: ideal for Liberty Head specialists and type collectors alike
Strong historical appeal: a Philadelphia-minted $5 gold piece from the early 1840s, an era of expanding American commerce and gold circulation
PCGS # 8207
Grading Service PCGS
Grade AU55
Mint Location Philadelphia
Year 1842
Designation
Strike Business
Grade Add On NONE
1842 $5 Small Letters Liberty Head Half Eagle PCGS AU55 (CAC)
1842 $5 Small Letters
SKU: 53727266
An exceptional opportunity to acquire a scarce, collector-favorite Liberty Head Half Eagle: the 1842 $5 “Small Letters” from the Philadelphia Mint, certified PCGS AU55 and approved by CAC. This is a classic early-19th-century U.S. gold issue with strong market demand, and in About Uncirculated condition it becomes particularly desirable for collectors building type sets, Liberty Head gold sets, or date-and-variety Half Eagle collections.
Coin details and attribution
Date and denomination: 1842 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle
Mint: Philadelphia
Variety: Small Letters reverse
Certification: PCGS AU55
CAC: Yes
Rarity and collector context
Contrary to a common misconception, the 1842 Small Letters is not inherently rarer than the Large Letters variety overall; auction records and specialist experience consistently show the Large Letters to be the tougher coin across grades. That said, the 1842 Small Letters remains a genuinely rare early Half Eagle in its own right, especially in higher grades. Most surviving examples trade in VF to EF, making AU and Mint State coins decidedly elusive and strongly pursued when offered.
Population (certified)
PCGS Population: 4
PCGS Higher: 9
PCGS Coin Number: 27578
NGC: N/A
Variety diagnostics: Small Letters reverse
The “Small Letters” reverse is defined by compact, squared lettering punches that are about as wide as they are tall. This contrasts clearly with the Large Letters reverse, where the letters are taller, appear significantly larger, and crowd toward the rim. For collectors who value accurate attribution, the Small Letters diagnostics are an important part of this coin’s identity and long-term desirability.
Eye appeal and surfaces
This example displays a dominant gold surface color complemented by darker coppery-red accents within the engravings and around the raised design elements, creating an attractive, rich appearance. The overall look is consistent with a carefully preserved About Uncirculated Liberty Head gold coin and offers the kind of visual depth that collectors seek in pre-Civil War U.S. gold.
Why this coin belongs in a serious collection
Scarce in AU: a genuinely difficult grade level for the 1842 Small Letters Half Eagle
CAC-approved quality: adds confidence for collectors focused on originality and premium examples
Important variety within a foundational U.S. gold series: ideal for Liberty Head specialists and type collectors alike
Strong historical appeal: a Philadelphia-minted $5 gold piece from the early 1840s, an era of expanding American commerce and gold circulation
