1796/5 $5 SMALL EAGLE F15 PCGS CAC

The 1796/5 Small Eagle $5 half eagle is a landmark early American gold issue, representing one of the first half eagles struck by the United States Mint and a foundational piece in the nation’s coinage. This Draped Bust, Small Eagle type was produced to a modest mintage of just 6,196 pieces, with an estimated survival of roughly 100 examples across all grades, making it rare in any condition. Long regarded as a prize of early U.S. numismatics—celebrated as early as the 1864 John F. McCoy Sale as “very fine, and extremely rare”—this example displays warm, original coloration, blending muted yellow-gold with deeper orange honey. The Small Eagle, the highlight is the main focus and struck with this design only in 1795, 1796, 1797 and 1798. The most common of which is the 1795 $5 with about 500 known compared to the 1796 at 100, and not to forget that 1796/5 $5 there are only 10 CAC approved in all grades, compared to 62 1795 $5 CAC. Safe to say in all aspects the 1796/5 $5 is approximately 5 to 6 times rarer than the 1795 $5, but a lack of available pieces has not yet broadened the gap. Then second rarest is the 1797 with the 1798 the rarest both of which will cost 6 and 7 figures respectively.

Both sides exhibit superb originality making it a highly desirable representative of this iconic early gold type. Rarely encountered and virtually unobtainable in problem-free condition much less CAC approved. This half eagle represents a genuinely important opportunity for advanced collectors, confirmed by its tiny certification populations—PCGS reports just 1 example at this grade with 32 finer, while CAC has approved only 1 in this grade with 9 finer. Any published price on this is off, as evident by a 1795 $5 XF45 PCGS CAC selling most recently for $76,053 03/26 GC for a more common date.

PCGS Cert Verification #64663050

• PCGS POP - 1/32
• CAC Price Guide - $40,500
• CAC POP - 1/9
• PCGS Coin# - 8067