1839 Gobrecht Dollar

The 1839 Gobrecht dollar closes out one of the more unusual chapters in US coinage: a design struck in very small numbers over several years before being succeeded by the regular Seated Liberty dollar. Designed by engraver Christian Gobrecht, it combines a serene seated Liberty obverse with a dramatic flying eagle reverse.

Because genuine 1839 originals were struck in only limited quantity for actual monetary use, they are treated by collectors as a distinct, important rarity within early American dollar coinage, separate from the design's earlier pattern-like issues.

Christian Gobrecht created the seated Liberty and flying eagle motifs based on concept work by artist Thomas Sully and naturalist-painter Titian Peale. First struck in small numbers in 1836 largely as trial pieces, the design carried over with modifications through 1838 and 1839 before the Mint launched full production of the Seated Liberty dollar (without the flying eagle reverse) starting in 1840.

The 1839 issue is generally regarded as a genuine circulation strike rather than a pure pattern, marking the true conclusion of the Gobrecht dollar experiment.

Obverse: A seated figure of Liberty, draped and holding a liberty pole and shield, with "LIBERTY" inscribed on the shield and stars around the border by 1839, date below.

Reverse: An eagle in flight amid a field of stars, with "ONE DOLLAR" below; some varieties include the full "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" legend.

Die alignment (whether the eagle flies level or angled upward) and the presence or absence of certain reverse legends are used by specialists to classify different original strikes versus later restrikes, which exist for this design and require careful attention to detail.

Genuine 1839 Gobrecht dollars are rare and valuable, typically bringing tens of thousands of dollars or more depending on die variety, strike characteristics, and condition. Because both originals and later restrikes exist, professional certification is particularly important for coins of this type.