Numismatic

1911-S $5 Indian Gold Half Eagle MS-61 PCGS

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The 1911 gold five-dollar piece represents a fascinating departure from traditional coinage design. Minted in San Francisco, this half eagle is struck in incuse relief, meaning the details are pressed deep into the metal rather than raised above the surface. This unique technique gives the coin a distinct flat profile that protects the intricate artwork from wear. On the obverse, a portrait of a Native American chief wearing a traditional feathered war bonnet faces left. Thirteen stars encircle the profile, representing the original colonies, while the word LIBERTY is inscribed on the headband above the date. The reverse displays a proud bald eagle standing on a bundle of arrows, clutching an olive branch. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination of FIVE DOLLARS flank the eagle, while the traditional mottos E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST are integrated into the background. This specific coin contains 0.2419 troy ounces of gold and is composed of 90 percent pure gold. Out of a total mintage of 1,416,000 pieces produced at the San Francisco mint in 1911, this specimen has been certified in Mint State 61 (MS-61) condition, preserving the crisp lines of its unusual sunken design.