Numismatic

1911 $2.50 Indian Gold Quarter Eagle MS-62 NGC

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The 1911 gold quarter eagle represents a fascinating departure from traditional coin design. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint without a mint mark, this 2.50 dollar piece belongs to a series produced from 1908 to 1929. Rather than raising the design elements above the coin's surface, creator Bela Lyon Pratt utilized an innovative incuse, or sunken-relief, engraving technique. This unique physical format leaves the flat fields of the coin as the highest points, protecting the intricate details of the artwork from wear. On the obverse, a portrait of Liberty wearing a traditional Native American headdress looks leftward. Thirteen stars encircle this central figure, accompanied by the word LIBERTY and the 1911 date. The composition contains 0.12094 troy ounces of gold, blending artistic experimentation with precious metal content. This particular issue had a mintage of 704,000 pieces. The reverse displays a proud bald eagle perched on a bundle of arrows wrapped in an olive branch. The classic national mottos, E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST, are carefully placed in the open fields around the eagle. The country of origin, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and the denomination are inscribed along the outer edge. This specific specimen has been certified in Mint State 62 (MS-62), preserving the fascinating textures of this historic design.