Indian Head eagle

Indian Head eagle. The Indian Head eagle is a ten-dollar gold piece struck by the United States Mint from 1907 to 1933. The coin was designed by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt and represents a pinnacle of American coinage artistry from the early 20th century. It succeeded the Liberty Head eagle and was produced concurrently with other Saint-Gaudens designs like the Saint-Gaudens double eagle.

History

The genesis of the Indian Head eagle lies in President Theodore Roosevelt's dissatisfaction with the artistic state of American coinage, which he expressed in correspondence with sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Following the successful redesign of the double eagle, Roosevelt commissioned Saint-Gaudens to create a new ten-dollar gold piece. The initial 1907 design, featuring a Roman numeral date and no mint mark, proved problematic for the Philadelphia Mint to strike. After Saint-Gaudens' death, the Mint's Chief Engraver, Charles E. Barber, modified the design for mass production, simplifying the relief and adding a Arabic numeral date. The coin was minted through the Great Depression until the Gold Reserve Act of 1934 halted gold coin production and recalled circulating gold.

Design

The obverse features a left-facing profile of Liberty wearing a Native American headdress, a design element Saint-Gaudens adapted from a statue of Victory he created for the Sherman Monument in New York City. The headdress is adorned with feathers inscribed with LIBERTY, and the design is often noted for its lack of a peripheral border. The reverse depicts a standing bald eagle facing left, perched on a bundle of olive branches and arrows, symbolizing a desire for peace but readiness for war. This motif was inspired by earlier works like the Great Seal of the United States. The inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

Production and rarity

Production of the Indian Head eagle occurred primarily at the Philadelphia Mint, with additional coins struck at the Denver Mint and San Francisco Mint. The series includes several notable low-mintage issues that are highly prized by numismatists. The 1907 issue with a wire rim and period is extremely rare, a result of the initial experimental strikes. Other key dates include the 1911-D, the 1920-S, and the 1930-S, the latter being the second lowest mintage of the series. The final year of issue, 1933, saw limited production before the official end of gold coinage, making all examples from that year scarce.

Collecting

The Indian Head eagle is a central series for collectors of United States gold coins and is highly sought after in all grades. Many collectors pursue a complete date and mint mark set, a challenging endeavor due to the rarity and cost of key issues like the 1911-D. The coins are graded by services such as PCGS and NGC, with values heavily influenced by condition and rarity. Well-struck examples with full details on the headdress feathers and the eagle's leg feathers command significant premiums. The series is also popular for its artistic merit, representing the final work of Augustus Saint-Gaudens on U.S. coinage.

Key dates and mintages

The series features a wide range of mintages, from over 1.7 million for the 1914 issue to just 2,250 for the 1930-S. Key business strike dates and their approximate mintages include the 1907 Wire Rim (estimated 500), 1911-D (30,100), 1913-S (66,000), 1920-S (126,500), and 1930-S (2,250). The 1933 issue, with a mintage of 44,500, is also considered scarce as many were likely melted following the Gold Reserve Act. Coins from the Denver Mint and San Francisco Mint generally have lower mintages than their Philadelphia Mint counterparts and are key to a complete collection.

Category:Gold coins of the United States Category:1907 introductions Category:Coins of the United States