Numismatic

1912 $2.50 Indian Gold Quarter Eagle MS-61 NGC

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The 1912 United States gold quarter eagle represents a fascinating chapter in American numismatics, showcasing a design technique that sets it apart from almost all other circulating coinage. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of 616,000, this two and a half dollar gold piece contains 0.1209 troy ounces of gold at a purity of 0.900. Unlike traditional coins where the details stand out in relief above the flat surface, this coin features an incuse design, meaning the images and lettering are sunken below the surface level of the coin. On the obverse, a Native American chief wearing a traditional feathered headdress faces left. The word LIBERTY is inscribed along the upper edge, while the year 1912 is positioned at the bottom. The designer's initials, B.L.P., are also visible just above the date. This particular specimen has been certified in Mint State 61 (MS-61) condition, preserving the unique recessed details of this innovative early twentieth-century gold issue.