Numismatic

1912-S $5 Indian Gold Half Eagle AU-55 PCGS

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The 1912 five-dollar gold piece represents a fascinating departure from traditional coinage methods. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this half eagle features an innovative incuse design, where the details are recessed below the flat surface of the coin rather than raised above it. This distinctive artistic approach gives the coin a remarkably flat profile and a unique tactile quality. Crafted from 90 percent gold, this coin contains 0.2419 troy ounces of precious metal. The obverse displays a realistic portrait of a Native American chief in a full feathered headdress, surrounded by stars. On the reverse, a proud eagle stands amidst the classic national mottos, including the phrases E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST. The small S mint mark on the reverse denotes its origin at the San Francisco facility, which produced a limited run of 392,000 of these pieces in 1912. This specific coin has been certified in Almost Uncirculated 55 (AU-55) condition. This grade indicates that the coin has survived more than a century with only minimal wear on its highest design points, preserving the sharp details of the recessed engraving and the original luster of the gold.