The US 1896 Half Eagle $5 coin, made of 90% gold, was minted during the Gilded Age, a period of rapid industrialization and economic growth. The U.S. was becoming a global economic power, and the US 1896 Half Eagle symbolized the nation’s increasing wealth, with gold being a key part of the monetary system.
Politically, the US 1896 Half Eagle circulated during President Grover Cleveland’s second non-consecutive term. Its design, by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, featured Liberty and an eagle, representing strength and freedom. The US 1896 Half Eagle reflected both the economic boom and the country’s aspirations for global influence.