The Draped Bust $5
In 1795, the US Mint Director David Rittenhouse was succeeded by Henry DeSaussure. The aforementioned wanted to improve the design of the coin currently in circulation, so he appointed Robert Scot, current US Mint Chief Engraver of that time to get the designs ready. By the 31st of July of the same year, brand new $5 coins emerged as Half Eagles – the very first series of Gold Coins minted by the United States Mint.
Scot featured Miss Liberty facing right with her hair arranged while wearing a large cap. Ten stars are on the left side of the obverse while five stars are on the left after the word LIBERTY. The date is then inscribed on the bottom of the obverse.
As for the reverse, a small Eagle was holding a wreath on its beak while clutching on a palm branch. This very design of the Eagle was often referred to as the “Chicken Eagle” by numismatics nowadays. The Eagle is surrounded by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and with no denomination. This design is known as the Type 1 Small Eagle Draped Bust $5 and was minted from 1795-1798.
The second type was dated from 1795-1807 and came to be known as the Type 2 Heraldic Eagle even if the new design for the reverse first appeared in 1797. The US Mint tried to save the leftover dies from the 1795 obverse die and used that on the new Draped Bust $5. As a result, there were some new $5 gold coins that had overdates on them.
The Type 2 $5 Gold Coin features a Heraldic Eagle with the Great Seal of the United States on its chest. It was clutching an olive branch and three arrows on its talons while a ribbon is seen on its beak with the legend E PLURIBUS UNUM written on it. Just above the head of the Eagle is an arc of the cloud surrounding 13 stars. The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the Eagle and no denomination is marked on the coin.
All coins were minted in the US Mint in Philadelphia. The Draped Bust $5 has a reeded edge, weighs about 8.75 grams, are 25 millimeters in diameter and were made from 91.7% Gold and 8.3% Copper. Most Gold coins were melted by 1834 as the price for its bullion value exceed the coins’ face value. A population of Gold coins we have nowadays in very scarce and high-graded conditions.
Variations and Mintages of the Draped Bust $5
Type 1 Small Eagle Draped Bust $5
These were minted for four years – from 1795-1798 and with no Proof coins produced. The number of stars changed over the years on the obverse of the coin.
Regular Strike
1795 Small Eagle – 8,707 pieces were minted
1796/5 Small Eagle – 6,196 pieces were minted
1797 Small Eagle, 16 Stars Obverse – 2,552 pieces were minted
1797 Small Eagle, 15 Stars Obverse – 2,552 pieces were minted
1798 Small Eagle -100 pieces were minted
Type 2 Heraldic Eagle Draped Bust $5
The second type of the Draped Bust $5 were date 1795-1807. Variations included small and large stars, and a different number of stars on both reverse and obverse.
Regular Strike
1795 Large Eagle – 500 pieces were minted
1797 – 1,057 pieces were minted
- 1797 Large Eagle, 15 St Obverse
- 1797 Large Eagle, 16 St Obverse
- 1797/5 Large Eagle
1798 – 24,867 pieces were minted
- 1798 Large 8, 13 St Reverse
- 1798 Small 8
- 1798 Large 8, 14 St Reverse
1799 – 7,451 pieces were minted
- 1799 Large Stars Reverse
- 1799 Small Stars Reverse
1800 – 37,628 pieces were minted
1802 – 53,176 pieces were minted
- 1802/1
1803 – 33,506 pieces were minted
- 1803/2
1804 – 30,475 pieces were minted
- 1804 Small 8
- 1804 Small 8 over Large 8
- 1804 Private Restrike J-30
1805 – 33,183 pieces were minted
1806 – 54,417 pieces were minted
- 1806 Round 6, 7X6 Stars
- 1806 Pointed 6, 8X5 Stars
1807 Bust Right – 9,676 pieces were minted
Collecting Draped Bust $5
All dates for the Type 1 Small Eagle $5 are considered scarce and valuable, with the 1978 Small Eagle $5 regarded as one of the most desirable among all US Gold Coins. Two interesting varieties of Type 1 are the 1796/5 overdate and the 1795 that has the last S in STATES was accidentally striked with a D so the Mint had to punch it again with the final S. one can buy PCGS-graded Type 1 Small Eagle Draped Bust $5 from $15,000.00 and up to $645,000.00.
As for the Type 2 Heraldic Eagle Draped Bust $5, there are no coins minted and dated in 1801. There are two varieties to collect – both coins date 1797, one with 15 stars and the other with 16 stars on the obverse. Despite the melting of the majority of the US Gold coins in 1834, Mint States Type 2 Draped Bust $5 are quite plentiful. one can buy PCGS-graded Type 2 Heraldic Eagle Draped Bust $5 from $2,000.00-$440,000.00.