1820 FIVE DOLLARS
OR HALF EAGLE

PCGS Nos: 8125, 8126, 8127

Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 263,806
Proofs: ??

Designer: Robert Scot & John Reich

Diameter: 25 millimeters

Metal content:
Gold - 91.7%
Silver and Copper - 8.3%

Weight: 135 grains (8.748 grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: None (all dates of this type were struck at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania mint)

Images courtesy of Ron Guth

Varieties:
Curved Base 2, Small Letters on reverse
Curved Base 2, Large Letters on reverse
Flat Base 2 (also known as "Square 2")

Notes:
The finest Uncirculated "Curved Base 2, Small Letters" example graded by PCGS is a single MS-66.

The finest Uncirculated "Curved Base 2, Large Letters" examples graded by PCGS are 3 MS-65's.

The finest Uncirculated "Flat Base 2" example graded by PCGS is a single MS-66.

Significant examples:
PCGS MS-66 (illustrated above).  The "Great Lakes" collection.

PCGS MS-66 (Square 2) (#6581223).  Offered by Hanks & Associates, Inc. for $185,000 in the September 20, 1999 issue of Coin World

Recent appearances:
NGC MS-62.  Ex - Superior Galleries "Pre-Long Beach" Elite Coin Auction, May 25- 27, Lot 3696, sold for $21,850.00

PCGS MS-62.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part II", March 15-17, 2001, Lot 116, "Breen-6476, Breen-1A, Square 2 in Date" Not Sold

PCGS MS-61.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 324, "Breen-3D, Curved Base 2, Small Letters", illustrated, sold for $10,925.00  From Stack's sale of May 1971, Lot 1384; earlier from Stack's sale of the Conway Bolt Collection, April 1966, Lot 917

Brilliant Uncirculated.  Ex - Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 1730, "Breen 2-B, Miller 133, Square Base 2", plated, sold for $8,050.00

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia Of U.S. And Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen

"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The Professional Coin Grading Service