The Indian Head Quarter Eagle is a classical gold coin struck in the United States during the early 20^th century. The series ran from 1908 to 1933 and has become sought after among collectors due to its incused design which is distinct from the raised design which is found with most coins. While the coin today is popular for its artistry its design was criticized when first introduced. It is the Liberty quarter eagle’s successor.

Origin Of The Indian Head

President Roosevelt played a key role in the development of this coin. He was dissatisfied with the majority of gold coins which were in circulation during his day, as he felt the design was repetitive. William Bigelow, a confidant of the President, recommended the creation of a coin which utilized an incused rather than raised design. Roosevelt displayed enthusiasm for this and Bigelow then tapped Bela Pratt, a noted sculptor from Boston, to design what would become the Indian Head. Pratt was a Yale graduate who had studied in Paris and was influenced by French style. The Indian Head design was complete by 1908, with production beginning at the Philadelphia Mint shortly after.

Indian Head Characteristics

The incuse style used in the design of the Indian Head makes it distinct from every other coin which was in circulation at the time. The coin’s obverse side features a bust of a male Indian chief who is wearing an elaborate headdress. The inscription “Liberty” can be seen above, and 13 stars surround him which is meant to symbolize the original thirteen colonies. The coin’s reverse side displays an eagle holding an olive branch on top of a group of arrows. The inscription “United States of America” can be seen at the top, with the inscription “In God We Trust” and Latin “E Pluribus Unum” to the sides.

The Indian Head was circulated widely, and will range from “about uncirculated” to “extremely fine” condition. This is one of the toughest U.S. coins to grade due to its incused style, which will not display a lot of wear.Like other American gold coins struck at the time and even today, the gold composition is lower than many foreign gold coins. The Indian Head is comprised of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper. U.S. gold coins will often have trace amounts of other metals in order to make the coins stronger and more durable, and traditionally American law dictates that U.S. gold coins must only be produced with gold mined within the United States.

The Indian Head has a face value of $10, and the Great Depression of 1929 played a role in the discontinuation of the series. These coins are known for their luster and some dates have become quite rare. Roughly 200 Indian Head coins have received an NGC certification of MS 65 and certain dates will bring very high premiums. Only a handful of these coins have received the MS 66 certification and are extraordinarily expensive as such a grade for these coins is extremely rare.