1860 Mormon Gold Half Eagle PCGS MS61

1860 Mormon Gold Half Eagle PCGS MS61

In a time when no U.S. Mint was located anywhere near the West Coast, several United States Territories produced their own coinage. Among these was the Mormon Community led by Brigham Young who in 1848 worked with John Kay, who had been employed at a private mint in England. Kay collaborated with Young to design $2.50, $5, $10, and $20 denominations. Out of each design, the $5 1860 Mormon Gold Half Eagle is the only issue that features a unique obverse and reverse.

Featured on the obverse of the $5 1860 Mormon coin is the lion of Judah, an image associated with the second coming of Jesus. The lion is laying on grass near a body of water and is encircled by the phrase, “Holiness to the Lord” written in Deseret, a language created under Brigham Young to replace Latin. The reverse of the gold coin showcases an image of an eagle rising up behind a beehive. Brigham Young liked the symbolism of bees, that of productivity and self-sufficiency. Even the word “deseret” comes from a word meaning “honeybee” in the Book of Mormon. Inscribed on the rim of the obverse is “DESERET ASSAY OFFICE PURE GOLD 5. D.” even though the gold originated from the Colorado Gold Rush of 1858 and was certainly assayed at the firm of Clark, Gruber & Company.

The Coinage Act of 1864 along with a decree from the Governor of Utah put a stop to any further coins. Only 472 examples of the $5 1860 Mormon Gold Half Eagle were struck, out of a total of just 4,000 Mormon gold coins in any denomination. Out of all 1860 Mormon Gold Half Eagles struck, only 13 have been graded in Mint State 61 condition with just 11 finer known. With so few minted and even fewer graded in mint state, this $5 1860 Mormon Gold Half Eagle is among the finest known.

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