Numismatic

1911-S $5 Indian Gold Half Eagle AU-58 PCGS

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The 1911 five-dollar gold piece struck at the San Francisco Mint represents a fascinating departure from traditional coinage design. Unlike most coins with raised features, this half eagle utilizes an innovative incuse design, meaning the details are sunken below the flat surface. This unusual technique gives the coin a distinctively modern and sculptural appearance. On the obverse, the profile of a Native American chief wearing a traditional feathered headdress is recessed into the gold, accompanied by the year 1911. The reverse features a proud eagle standing amongst the classic national mottos, including the Latin phrase meaning out of many, one, and a declaration of trust. The small letter S, indicating its production at the San Francisco facility, is quietly placed on the reverse. This specific piece is preserved in an impressive Almost Uncirculated 58 condition, showing only the slightest traces of wear on its high points. Minted with a purity of 90 percent gold, it contains just under a quarter ounce of precious metal (0.2419 troy ounces). With a total mintage of 1,416,000 pieces for this year and mint combination, it remains a captivating study in early twentieth-century American numismatic artistry.