The Classic Head half eagle was produced in response to a problem in the early 1830s: circulating gold coins didn't actually circulate. U.S. gold coins became a commodity, worth more than their face value in European silver, and thousands were exported and melted. The 1834 Mint Act resolved the problem by reducing the gold content, thus making it unprofitable to melt U.S. gold coins.

Vital Stats.

Typical
Classic Head

To make the coins with the new weight easily visible, William Kneass was assigned the task of redesigning the half Eagle. The redesign was actually a reintroduction of the 1808 Classic Head cent design. This gave her a younger, classical appearance. The reverse remained basically the same, but with banner and E PLUIBUS UNUM removed.

Three coins are considered key in the series:

• the 1834 Crosslet 4
• the 1838-C
• the 1838-D

All trade at four to eight times the price of others in the series at all grade levels.