Half union

Half union
United states
Value50 US Dollars
Mass83.58 g
Diameter50.80 mm
EdgeReeded
Composition90% Au
10% Cu
Years of minting1877
Mint marksNone (half union patterns were minted at the Philadelphia Mint)
Obverse
DesignLiberty
DesignerWilliam Barber
Design date1877
Reverse
DesignEagle
DesignerWilliam Barber
Design date1877

The half union (separate varieties known as J-1546 through J-1549[1]) was a United States pattern coin with a face value of fifty U.S. Dollars. It is often thought of as one of the most significant and well-known patterns in the history of the U.S. Mint. The basic design, featuring Liberty on the obverse, was slightly modified from the similar $20 "Liberty Head" Double Eagle, which was designed by James B. Longacre and minted from 1849 to 1907.

Today, two gold specimens belong to the Smithsonian. No others are known to exist. There are also copper specimens of the coin that can go for more than $300,000 in PF-65 condition. The half union was never released for circulation.

Some half unions can have a somewhat smaller or larger head than others.

  1. ^ Judd, J. Hewitt (2009). Bowers, Q. David (ed.). United States Pattern Coins (9 ed.).