Early Half Eagle representative series image
Representative series imageEarly Half EagleReference art may not show this exact date or mint.
Early Half Eagle
U.S. collector price guide

1796 Early Half Eagle (small-eagle)

Denomination
$5 Gold
Mint
P (Philadelphia)
Composition
91.67% gold
Mintage
6,196
Guide value by grade$2,500–$14,000
Limited3 priced grades

Collector value is shown by grade, but intrinsic metal value can dominate lower-grade outcomes.

Circulated$2,500
Melt floor$6060.2578 oz × $2350/oz
Updated 2026-06-09published-guideHow the guide works →
Grade Ladder
$2.5k$4.4k$7.9k$14kF-12VF-20EF-40
Tab, hover, or tap a grade to see the price jump
Price by Grade
GradeQualityEst. Value
F-12Fine
$2,500
VF-20Very Fine
$5,000
EF-40Extremely Fine
$14,000

Estimates from published guides and recent sold data. Grade is everything. Verify before you buy.
Melt floor: Includes intrinsic metal value (0.2578 oz gold). Marked grades are worth more melted than as collector coins.

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What to do next
Check the gradeValue changes by condition. Compare the grade ladder before using the headline estimate.
Watch melt valueMetal value is part of this page, and can dominate lower-grade outcomes.
Verify before buyingUse methodology, source confidence, and recent comps before making purchase decisions.
Common Questions

What is the 1796 Early Half Eagle (small-eagle) worth?

Current guide estimates on this page range from $2,500 to $14,000 depending on grade.

Why does grade matter for the 1796 Early Half Eagle (small-eagle)?

Coin value can change sharply by condition. Use the grade ladder and price-by-grade table before relying on any single headline estimate.

Does melt value affect the 1796 Early Half Eagle (small-eagle)?

This page shows a melt floor of $606 based on listed metal weight and the current guide spot value used by CoinSpinner.

Survivor's LedgerNo. cs_us_half-eagle_early-half-eagle_1796_p_small-eagle
230years survived since minting
Minted
1796
Denomination
$5 Gold
Composition
91.67% gold
Mintage
6,196

Deeper history for the Early Half Eagle series is still being researched. Know this one? Help us write it →

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Guide record
Grade and metal context

Use the grade ladder, pricing confidence, and melt floor together before making a buying decision.

Read methodology →
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