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Picture of the day

The half eagle is a United States coin that was produced for circulation from 1795 to 1929 and in commemorative and bullion coins since the 1980s. Composed almost entirely of gold, it has a face value of five dollars. It was the first gold coin to be minted by the United States, its production being authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792. The design and composition of the half eagle changed many times over the years, but it was originally designed by Robert Scot. The obverse design depicts a turbaned portrait of Liberty facing to the right, and the reverse depicts a heraldic eagle; this type was produced in 1797 and was unique in having 16 stars on the obverse. Other designs:

• 1795
• 1795–1798
• 1797
• 1807–1812
• 1813–1834
• 1813–1834 (alt)
• 1834–1838
• 1839–1866
• 1866
• 1908–1929

National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History; photographed by Jaclyn Nash