Numismatic

1908 $5 Indian Gold Half Eagle MS-64 PCGS

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In 1908, the United States Mint introduced a radical departure from traditional coinage design with the Indian Head five-dollar gold piece, also known as the Half Eagle. Unlike typical coins with raised features, this series features an innovative incuse design, meaning the details and inscriptions are sunken below the flat surface of the coin. This unusual technique gives the coin a distinct, flat profile that was unlike anything else in American coinage at the time. This specific coin was minted at the Philadelphia Mint in 1908, which was the inaugural year for this design type. Because it was struck in Philadelphia, it does not bear a mint mark. Out of a total mintage of 577,845 pieces struck for the year, this specimen has survived in remarkable condition, certified as Mint State 64 (MS-64). At this high grade, the coin retains its original luster and showcases the sharp details of the native chieftain on the obverse and the standing eagle on the reverse. The coin contains 0.2419 troy ounces of actual gold content, minted with a purity of 90 percent gold. Its inscriptions include the traditional mottos "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM," integrated seamlessly into the unique recessed fields of the design.