Unlike the smaller 1862 gold issues, production of P-mint half eagles through double eagles from this Civil War year was well below traditional levels. To illustrate this decrease, business strike fives were reduced from more than 688,000 pieces in 1861 to a mere 4,430 business strikes in 1862. This limited production of half eagles at the Philadelphia facility would continue until after Reconstruction. The average grade of surviving '62-P fives indicates that most saw extensive commercial use, with pieces grading XF or lower being far more prevalent than higher graded examples. Known Mint State pieces can be counted on one hand.