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5 Dollars '1860 Half Eagle' Pattern, copper
| Issuer | United States Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1860 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Dollars (5 USD) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A small heraldic eagle displayed at center, wings open, grasping an olive branch and a bundle of arrows in its talons; a shield is affixed to the breast, and the eagle holds in its beak a scroll inscribed with the national motto. The peripheral legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs above, and FIVE DOLLARS appears below, all within a beaded or dentilated border. The design draws on the earlier small-eagle reverse type employed on United States gold coinage. |
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| Mint | Philadelphia Mint |
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| Additional information |
Judd-272 is one of several 1860 pattern half eagles struck in off-metal compositions, produced at a time when the Mint was actively experimenting with alternative coinage materials. Congress and the Mint were under recurring pressure throughout the late 1850s to address the chronic disappearance of gold and silver coins from circulation — hoarding and bullion export left the public dependent on fractional currency and privately issued substitutes. Copper strikes of this denomination were part of that broader inquiry into whether base-metal coinage could fill the gap.
Surviving examples number in the low single digits.