1853 $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle PCGS AU58 (CAC)

Here's an affordable option for the collector on a budget. This attractive example of the popular Liberty head half eagle series won't break the bank, and when you consider that the highest graded specimen of this issue is MS64, it is a relatively high-end piece. PCGS has graded 75 in AU58 with 94 finer. In CAC, there are 15 in AU58 with 13 finer.

Original drawing by James B. Longacre of his iconic Liberty head with Coronet.

Here's an interesting aside for collectors: Did you know that the Liberty head half eagles were the only coin to be struck at every single U.S. mint? So, if you would like to put together a type set of Liberty head $5 half eagles, then a great project would be to acquire one of each minted in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City, and Denver! Imagine putting together that unique set of seven coins from seven different mints. Wouldn't that be a great numismatic accomplishment? And the perfect affordable Philadelphia example--with the prestigious CAC sticker--is within your reach, waiting for you to claim it as your own.