$5 Indian Half Eagle Coins (1908-1929)

About The $5 Indian Half Eagle

The $5 Indian Half Eagle coin was a gold coin produced by the United States Mint from 1908 to 1929. It was designed by the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned to redesign American coinage.

The obverse (front) of the coin features the head of a Native American wearing a headdress, with the word "LIBERTY" inscribed above it and the year of minting below it. The reverse (back) of the coin shows a bald eagle in flight, with the denomination "FIVE DOLLARS" and the phrase "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" inscribed around it.

One of the unique features of the $5 Indian Half Eagle coin is its raised edge, which was intended to prevent wear on the design and extend the coin's life. Another exciting aspect of the coin is that the design is incuse, meaning that the design elements are recessed into the surface of the coin rather than raised above it.

The $5 Indian Half Eagle coin was produced at several U.S. Mint locations, including Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. It was minted in relatively small quantities, with some years having fewer than 10,000 coins produced.

Today, the $5 Indian Half Eagle coin is a popular collectible item among enthusiasts and investors. These coins' rarity and historical significance make them highly sought after, with some specimens selling for tens of thousands of dollars or more.

About The Design

Saint-Gaudens' design for the $5 Indian Half Eagle coin differed from previous American coinage, which typically featured a raised design on both the obverse and reverse. Instead, the design elements on the $5 Indian Half Eagle coin are incused or recessed into the coin's surface. This was a challenging design choice for the U.S. Mint, requiring new coinage technology and tools.

The coin's obverse features a bust of a Native American wearing a feathered headdress, facing to the left. The portrait is believed to be based on three different Native American chiefs that Saint-Gaudens met and sketched while working on the design. The word "LIBERTY" is inscribed above the portrait, while the year of minting appears below it.

On the reverse, Saint-Gaudens created a striking image of a bald eagle in flight. The bird is depicted with outstretched wings, clutching an olive branch in its talons to symbolize peace. The denomination "FIVE DOLLARS" is inscribed on the reverse side of the coin, along with the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."

One exciting feature of the coin's design is the raised edge, which was intended to protect the recessed design elements from wear and damage. The rim also contains 46 stars, representing the 46 states in the Union at the time the coin was first produced.

The History Of The $5 Indian Half Eagle

The $5 Indian Half Eagle coin was first minted in 1908 and continued in production until 1929. The coin was struck at several U.S. Mint facilities, including Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Throughout its production, the $5 Indian Half Eagle saw a total mintage of over 12 million coins.

The coin was first issued during a significant change in American coinage design. In the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt was deeply dissatisfied with the quality of American coinage, which he considered overly conservative and outdated. He commissioned Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a noted sculptor, to redesign American coinage to create more beautiful and artistic coins reflecting the nation's aspirations and values.

The $5 Indian Half Eagle was one of the coins that Saint-Gaudens designed as part of this effort. His striking and innovative design, with its incuse elements and raised edge, was a radical departure from previous American coinage and helped to usher in a new era of American coin design.

The $5 Indian Half Eagle was widely circulated throughout the United States. However, the coin's production ultimately halted in 1929 due to the Great Depression and the economic turmoil it caused. The U.S. Mint shifted its focus to producing other currencies, and the $5 Indian Half Eagle was never minted again.