United States
5 Dollars "Capped Bust" · “Capped Bust”
United States · 1813–1834 · Gold
The coin
The story
The Capped Head Half Eagle (1813–1834)
The United States made well over a million of these $5 gold pieces. Today, a single date survives in only three examples — and one of those sold for $8.4 million. The reason isn't a lost ship or a fire. It's arithmetic: Congress priced the gold inside the coin too cheaply, so the smart move was to melt it.
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