Numismatic

1911 $5 Indian Gold Half Eagle AU

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The 1911 five dollar gold coin represents a fascinating departure from traditional coin design. Created by artist Bela Lyon Pratt, this piece features an incuse design, meaning the details are sunken into the flat surface of the coin rather than raised above it. This unique physical trait gives the coin a distinctive texture and appearance that sets it apart from almost all other American currency. On the front of the coin, a Native American figure wearing a detailed ceremonial headdress looks to the left. This central portrait is bordered by thirteen stars, with the word 'LIBERTY' placed along the top edge and the date 1911 positioned at the bottom. The designer's initials, 'B.L.P.', are also subtly included on this side. The reverse side showcases a proud bald eagle standing on a bundle of arrows and holding an olive branch. The eagle is surrounded by several traditional inscriptions, including 'United States of America' and the face value, 'Five Dollars'. The classic mottos 'E Pluribus Unum' and 'In God We Trust' are carefully integrated into the empty spaces around the bird. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin does not bear a mint mark. It is composed of 90 percent gold, containing exactly 0.2419 troy ounces of the precious metal. Out of a total mintage of 915,000 pieces, this specific coin has survived in Almost Uncirculated condition, preserving the intricate details of its unusual sunken relief.