Numismatic

1927 $2.50 Indian Gold Quarter Eagle XF

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The 1927 gold quarter eagle stands out as a remarkable example of American coinage, showcasing a distinctive incuse design where the details are sunken below the flat surface of the coin rather than raised above it. This innovative technique, created by designer Bela Lyon Pratt, gives the coin a unique texture and visual depth. Produced at the Philadelphia Mint, this issue is part of a series minted from 1908 to 1929, representing the final era of circulating U.S. gold. On the obverse, a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a traditional Native American feathered headdress is encircled by thirteen stars, representing the original colonies. The word LIBERTY is inscribed along the top curve, with the year 1927 positioned at the bottom. The designer's initials, BLP, are also visible. The reverse depicts a proud bald eagle perched on a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. The inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the top rim, with the national mottos E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST flanking the central figure. The denomination is expressed at the bottom as 2 1/2 DOLLARS. Struck in 90 percent gold, each coin contains 0.12094 troy ounces of precious metal, with a total mintage of 388,000 pieces for the year.