$2.50 Liberty Head (1840 - 1907)

The Liberty Head design is by far the longest lasting design in U.S. history. For 68 years Americans saw their money with the classic Liberty Head design. This design was introduce by Christian Gobrecht, Weighing 4.18 grams and containing .12094 ounces of pure gold, this classic piece of American art and history was produced by the Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans and San Francisco mints.

In 1848, about 230 ounces of gold were sent to Secretary of war Macy by Colonel R.B. Mason, military governor of California. The $2.50 Liberty coins that were produced from this gold have a distinguishing mark of "CAL." on the reverse. Several specimens with "Prooflike" surfaces are known.

A modified reverse design appeared in 1859, with smaller letters and arrowheads, coming from Philadelphia. From 1859 - 1861 both large and small variety's were produced. In 1877 ,18 years later, the small variety had hit San Francisco.

Twenty four of these dates and mint marks have mintages of 5000 or less, with the rarest date by mintage being.

1875 Philadelphia - 400 coins minted
1881 Philadelphia - 640 coins minted
1885 Philadelphia - 800 coins minted

The Great Natchez Tornado strikes Natchez, Mississippi, killing 317 people. It is the second deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

The first ongoing filibuster in the United States Senate begins and lasts until March 11, 1841.

The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Amistad case, concerning captive Africans who seized control of the slave-trading ship carrying them: the court rules that they had been taken into slavery illegally.

U.S. President John Tyler vetoes a bill which called for the re-establishment of the Second Bank of the United States. Enraged Whig Party members riot outside the White House in the most violent demonstration on White House grounds in U.S. history.

In 1842 the United States recognizes the independence of Hawaii.

These are just a few of the changes this great series of coins saw. With the series lasting 68 years the Liberty Head design ushered in the greatest economic changes in American history.