How to Identify the Medal of Honor Commemorative Half Eagle
A collector's guide to recognizing the 2011 gold $5 Medal of Honor commemorative by its star-and-column obverse, size, and gold content.
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Begin with the obverse, which is the surest diagnostic. This coin shows the pendant of the Medal of Honor, a five-pointed star suspended from a short chain and ribbon bar, floating above a fluted Corinthian column. That combination of a hanging star medal and a classical column is unique to this issue and is not found on any circulating US coin. Confirm the 2011 date and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA legend around the rim.
Turn to the reverse to double-check. A genuine piece shows two soldiers in an active combat stance, along with the mottoes E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST and the denomination FIVE DOLLARS. If the reverse shows anything else, such as an eagle or a wreath, you are looking at a different coin.
Use size and metal as a physical test. The US commemorative half eagle is small, about 21.6 mm across and roughly 8.36 grams, struck in 90% gold with a deep yellow color. It should be noticeably heavier than a same-size base-metal token and must not be attracted to a magnet. Look for the W mint mark, indicating the West Point Mint, on genuine examples.
Mind the look-alikes and the cautions. Do not confuse this gold coin with the companion 2011 Medal of Honor silver dollar, which is larger, white in color, and worth far less in metal. Because it is a small gold coin, it is a target for counterfeits and gold-plated fakes; underweight pieces, wrong diameter, seams on the edge, or mushy detail are warning signs. For a valuable gold commemorative, third-party grading and authentication, ideally in original US Mint packaging, are worth the cost.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the gold half eagle from the silver dollar in the same set?
The half eagle is a small yellow-gold coin about 21.6 mm across worth five dollars in face value; the silver dollar is larger, white-colored, and struck in silver. Metal color and size are the quickest tells.
What should a genuine coin weigh?
About 8.36 grams at roughly 21.6 mm in diameter, struck in 90% gold. A piece that is light, undersized, magnetic, or shows plating wear is not an authentic gold half eagle.
Where is the mint mark?
Genuine 2011 Medal of Honor gold half eagles were struck at West Point and carry a W mint mark. Its absence, or a different letter, is reason to examine the coin more closely.
How can I be sure a gold example is real?
Verify the correct weight, diameter, and non-magnetic gold color, and confirm the star-and-column obverse and two-soldier reverse. For certainty on a gold coin, rely on professional third-party authentication and grading.