Half union

Half union

United states
Value	50 US Dollars
Mass	83.58 g
Diameter	50.80 mm
Edge	Reeded
Composition	90% Au 10% Cu
Years of minting	1877
Mint marks	None (half union patterns were minted at the Philadelphia Mint)
Obverse
Design	Liberty
Designer	William Barber
Design date	1877
Reverse
Design	Eagle
Designer	William Barber
Design date	1877

The half union (separate varieties known as J-1546 through J-1549^[1]) was a United States pattern coin with a face value of fifty U.S. Dollars. It is often thought of as one of the most significant and well-known patterns in the history of the U.S. Mint. The basic design, featuring Liberty on the obverse, was slightly modified from the similar $20 "Liberty Head" Double Eagle, which was designed by James B. Longacre and minted from 1849 to 1907.

Today, two gold specimens belong to the Smithsonian. No others are known to exist. There are also copper specimens of the coin that can go for more than $300,000 in PF-65 condition. The half union was never released for circulation.

Some half unions can have a somewhat smaller or larger head than others.