$5 Indian Head
1908-1929
Mintage: 14.1 million

Designer: Bela Lyon Pratt

At the turn of the century, President Theodore Roosevelt thought the existing US coins were ugly and wanted American coins to be as beautiful as the coins of ancient Greece.  In late 1905 he asked renowned American sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens to redesign the $10 eagle and $20 double eagle.  These coins were introduced in 1907, shortly after St. Gaudens’ death.  Roosevelt’s friend, Dr. William S. Bigelow, suggested making coins with devices sunk below the fields, somewhat like some ancient Egyptian coins, and convinced sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt to submit models for the $2½ quarter eagle and $5 half eagle.  Pratt’s designs were forwarded to Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber, who spent several months delaying the coin’s progress and modifying the designs.

The first half eagles left the Mint in late 1908 and were immediately attacked by critics who complained that the coin’s reverse relief would attract dirt.  Despite the complaints, the coin’s design remained unchanged throughout its short life.  There was apparently little demand for smaller-denomination gold coins throughout the 1920s and no half eagles were made between 1916 and 1929, or after 1929.  Most of the 1929 mintage is believed to have been melted at the Mint.

Types: 1) This coin was unchanged throughout its life.

Mints: Minted in Philadelphia (1908-1915, 1929), Denver (1908-1911 and 1914), San Francisco (1908-1916) and New Orleans (1909).  The mintmarks (‘D’, ‘S’ and ‘O’) are located on the reverse, just to the left of the arrow point.  The mintmark is raised above the surface of the coin and may be faint.

Specifications: Size: 21.6 millimeters; Alloy: 90% gold, 10% copper; Weight: 8.359 grams (7.523 grams or 0.242 troy oz. of pure gold).

U.S. Gold / Gold Content