The first five dollar gold coin minted in the United States was approved by congress in 1792.  This was also the first gold coin of any denomination minted in the US. The coin weighted 135 grams and was made of .917% pure gold. It was called the Half Eagle $5.00 gold piece, since then there have been a few different types of five dollar gold coins minted. One of the most popular is the 1909 five dollar gold coin.

The last of the five dollar gold coins minted where called the Indian head five dollar gold piece, these coins where minted from 1909 to 1929. These were also among the last gold coins minted for circulation in the US. Today they still make five dollar gold coins but they are not for regular circulation mainly for the collectors who can afford to own such treasures. These may be purchased directly from the mint or through a respected coin dealer.

In the 1930’s the government melted down about 90% of all gold coins in circulation, and more where melted when gold prices soared. This made the value of these rare gems grow rapidly. If you own one these five dollar gold coins dated in late 1700’s or early 1800’s you could be sitting on as much as a million dollars. In July of 2008 a 1797, five dollar gold half eagle graded MS66 sold for 1,380,000.00. This coin had an error on it, but that wasn’t uncommon back then they just didn’t have the technology we have today when it comes to minting coins.

When you hold a coin like this, just think about who may have had this coin in their pocket one day. Perhaps it was a part of a robbery committed by Jessie James and his gang or maybe even a famous president had it is possession at one time. You can let your imagination just run wild when thinking of five dollar gold coins !