Description
The Saint-Gaudens double eagle, renowned as the exquisite $20 gold piece, has long been celebrated as the pinnacle of beauty in American numismatic history. However, during the same era, two smaller yet remarkably innovative United States gold coins emerged, capturing attention and stirring controversy. These coins are the Indian Head quarter and half eagles, colloquially known as the Indian Head $2.50 and $5 gold pieces.
Distinguished by their distinctive sunken designs and lettering, the Indian Head quarter eagle and its larger counterpart, the half eagle, stand out from other United States coinage. Their relief points are seamlessly level with the fields, creating a beautifully smooth surface. Notably, these coins lack raised rims except for the mintmark, if present, which typically safeguard against wear.
The $2.50 Indian Head gold coin was minted from 1908 to 1929 and remains a favorite among collectors. The obverse features an Indian wearing a war bonnet, while the reverse depicts a bald eagle clutching an olive branch. Designed by Bela Lyon Pratt, this coin shares similarities with the $5 half eagle gold coin. The 1911-D edition is particularly rare due to its low mintage, especially in proof, which adds to its collectible appeal. During its minting period, the $2.50 Indian Head gold coin served as currency.
Specifications for the Indian Head quarter eagle include its composition of 90% gold and 10% copper. It measures 18 mm in diameter, 1.2 mm in thickness, and weighs 4.1796 grams. The coin, with a gold purity of 90% or 21.6 karats, contains approximately .1209 troy ounce of fine gold. Its reeded edge is a common feature among United States gold coins.
What We Buy
California Gold & Silver Exchange will gladly buy your $10 Indian Heads, and will pay you cash, or check, on the spot. We are so confident in our buy price, that we recommend you call a few places. You will see that we are the most competitive gold coin buyers in the area. We can pay such a great price because we also sell the coins at our retail location. Most gold buyers purchase from the public and sell the coins to wholesalers. If they do not sell to the public, they are likely not the highest-paid buyers. We have had many people drive over an hour or more, to sell their gold coins. It is worth it for them to drive because of our competitive pricing, especially if they have a large quantity. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call with any questions you have. You can call us at 909-985-4653, or send us an email at [email protected]
