Indian Head Gold Coins
$10 Gold Indian Head
$5 Gold Indian Head
$2.50 Gold Indian Head
$1 Gold Indian Head
The Indian Head Gold Coin provides a great opportunity for collectors and investors to own a piece of history dating from the early 19th Century. If you have the opportunity to hold a Gold Indian Head Coin - you will be wrapping your hand around an item that went through WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War and the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.
The Indian Head Gold Coin was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens which is the designer of the very popular $20 St. Gauden Double Eagle Gold Coin. The Indian Head Gold Coin was offered and is available in four denominations.
$10 Gold Indian Head
The $10 Indian Head's obverse features the head of Liberty, donning an Indian war bonnet that reads 'LIBERTY'. Thirteen stars representing the nation's thirteen original colonies arc above Liberty's head. The date appears at the bottom of the coin.
The reverse depicts a proud Bald Eagle puffing its chest as it stands among olive branches. The Latin phrase 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' lies to the viewer's right of the eagle. The words 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and the denomination ('TEN DOLLARS') appear at the top and bottom of the coin, respectively. The motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' was added to the coin in the middle of 1908 by order of Congress.
Perhaps the most fascinating feature of this striking gold coin is that the edge of the coin features raised stars signifying the states of the Union, rather than a lettered or reeded edge. Coins struck from 1907 to 1911 feature 46 stars. Two more stars were added the following year to commemorate the addition of New Mexico and Arizona to the Union.
There were only 500 1907 $10 Gold Indian Head Coins minted prior to the die being modified to remove the wire rim. There is no count of how many of these coins remain, needless to say - they are very valuable!
$5 Gold Indian Head
The obverse pictures an Indian Chief, the first true American Indian ever to appear on United States coinage. Previously, Caucasian models dressed in American Indian attire were used. The chief on the Indian Head is wearing a full-feathered headdress with the word 'Liberty' inscribed on the headband. A border of thirteen stars and the minting date encircle him.
The reverse features a proud bald eagle standing among olive branches, surrounded by the words 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'. The motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' and the denomination also appear on the reverse.
$2.50 Gold Indian Head
The coin obverse pictures an Indian Chief, the first true American Indian ever to appear on United States coinage. Previously, Caucasian models dressed in American Indian attire were used. The chief on the Indian Head is wearing a full-feathered headdress with the word 'Liberty' inscribed on the headband. A border of thirteen stars and the minting date encircle him.
The reverse of the $2.50 coin features a proud bald eagle standing among olive branches, surrounded by the words 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'. The motto 'In God We Trust', and the denomination also appear on the reverse.
$1 Gold Indian Head
In an effort to make the coin appear larger, the Type I was flattened to add 3 millimeters to the diameter to create the Type II. This caused several problems in the striking of the gold coin from the very beginning. The high relief of the head on the obverse prevented certain relief areas on the corresponding part of the reverse from striking up properly, especially the central two digits of the date. There were also problems with the strike of Miss Liberty's head and parts of the wreath. The Type II Indian Heads were minted only for only two years from 1854-1856.
Design changes creating the Type III $1 Indian Head resulted in coins that could be struck properly. They were produced for over three decades between 1856 and 1889. These gold dollars were minted in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, and San Francisco.
