Semi-Numismatic

$2.50 Indian Gold Quarter Eagle (Cleaned)

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The United States gold quarter eagle, struck between the years 1908 and 1929, represents a fascinating departure from traditional coinage methods. Created by the artist Bela Lyon Pratt, this two and a half dollar denomination features an innovative sunken relief design, where the details are recessed below the flat surface of the coin rather than raised above it. Each coin is composed of 90 percent gold, containing 0.1209 troy ounces of the precious metal. On the obverse, a portrait of Liberty wearing a traditional feathered headdress faces left, encircled by thirteen stars representing the original colonies. The word LIBERTY is inscribed along the top curve, with the year of mintage positioned at the bottom. These historic pieces were struck at either the Philadelphia or Denver mints, and individual specimens may show signs of past cleaning or use in jewelry. The reverse displays a proud bald eagle standing amidst classic American mottos. Surrounding the central figure are the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination of 2 1/2 DOLLARS. The traditional phrases E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST are nested into the open fields around the eagle, completing a design that remains one of the most distinctive in the history of American currency.