One of the great things about numismatics is each of the histories connected with coin collecting. Therefore, the value and popularity of coins is also based on their historic background. Indian Head gold coinage is a superb example of how history unfolds when you begin collecting historic coins.
Collectors not only appreciate the historic significance of Indian head gold coins, they also like the coin’s incused design.
This means that the coin’s main features on the obverse and reverse sides are embedded beneath the surface, thereby causing the coin to show less wear-and-tear.
The History of the Indian Head Gold Coin
President Theorodre Rooselvelt commissioned the making of the Indian Head Gold Coin in 1908. Although Roosevelt selected Augustus Saint Gaudens to design all the coins’ denominations, the job fell to Bela Lyon Pratt. Saint Gaudens had died before he could complete the project.
The coin was originally conceived to be part of the St. Gaudens’ Double Eagle series, both of which were designed to enhance the beauty of U.S. coinage.
The Coin’s Design
Bela Lyon Prat added the profile of a Native American man on the coin’s obverse side in traditional headdress. Thirteen stars edge the left and right sides and the world “LIBERTY” appears above the border while a mint date appears at the bottom. The designer’s initials, “BLP,” are included slightly above the mint date.
The coin is unique, again, because of its incused or recessed design. The embedded artwork is a one -of-a-kind expression as coins usually display a raised design.
The reverse side of the coin shows an eagle that faces left. You can see the whole body of the bird sitting on the branch of an olive. The bird symbolizes harmony and peace.
The words, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, appear at the top of the reverse side of the coin. On the left side, the words of the U.S. motto, E. Pluribus Unum appear, and another motto, “In God We Trust,” appears on the right. This motto is displayed on all U.S. coins.
Indian Head Gold Denominations
The coin is featured in four denominations. Denominations include pisces in $2.5, $5, $10, and $20. The designs for the $10 and $20 coins are slightly altered on the coin’s obverse side.
Indian Head Coin Values
Naturally, the higher denomination Indian Head gold coins are worth more because they have more gold content. All the coins are fairly rare and therefore more valuable. That’s because the coins were minted for only several years or lost or destroyed during the 1933 Gold Confiscation Act. As a result, this coin is quite a find for the collector of gold coinage.
Gold Denominations and Their Gold Content
All denominations of the Indian head coins are made of 10% copper and 90% gold and display a reeded-edge design.
The Mint Periods for the Coin
The gold Indian head coins were minted initially from 1908 to 1916. The U.S. Mint produced more coins from 1926 to 1933 until the 1933 Gold Confiscation Act ended minting of the coin permanently.
Learn More about Indian Head Gold Coins Online
You will find that an interesting history backs the numismatic appeal of Indian head gold coins. Don’t miss out adding this rare and valuable gold coin to your coin collection now.
