INDIAN HEAD FIVE DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE (1908-1929)
1911 Indian Head Half
Eagle - Proof
The 1911 Indian Head Half Eagle is one of
the more common dates of the series but it is scarce in choice
or gem uncirculated condition. Proofs are rare and are of
the matte finish type.
None (for Philadelphia,
PA) left of the arrowheads on the reverse.
PRATT'S INDIAN HEAD DESIGN
(1908-1929):
One of the fulfillments of Pres. Theodore Roosevelt's
"pet crime" plan-improving coinage designs,
bypassing the stupefying mediocrity of Mint Engraver
Barber-was issue of gold coins in the new design by
Bela Lyon Pratt. The story behind this design is in
Chap. 33, Sect, viii, introductory text. To this same
"pet crime" project we owe the magnificent
St. Gaudens eagles and double eagles, and ultimately
also the Lincoln cent and buffalo nickel, undisputedly
making this period the zenith of American coinage
art, at least for sheer numbers of excellent designs
introduced to circulation. (Barber got his revenge
by watering down the designs.)
Nevertheless, hardly were the first
Pratt half eagles out of the Mint before traditionalists
began attacking the design on flimsy grounds. Earlier
I cited S. Hudson Chapman's objections. A more serious
criticism which could have been raised is that Barber
ordered mintmarks to be placed just 1. of arrowheads,
failing to notice that the O, S, or D will be weakly
struck and wear down in that location more quickly
than any other detail.
As a result, some of the rarer dates like 1908 S and
1909 O come so weak that mintmarks are difficult to
read with certainty, and occasionally the ungodly
either affix an O to a genuine Philadelphia coin or
alter 1909 D to simulate the rarer mint-mark.
A
consequence of a different kind is the 1916 without
mint-mark S. Though the Philadelphia Mint issued no
half eagles in 1916, at least two survivors lack the
mintmark. These are generally thought to be 1916 S's
weakly struck so that S does not show. The only one
I have examined is strong enough to make that conclusion
dubious. Alternative possibilities include foreign
matter in the die clogging the mintmark, lapping.
PRATT'S INDIAN HEAD
DESIGN
Designer, Bela Lyon Pratt. Engraver, Charles E. Barber,
after Pratt. Mints, Philadelphia (no mintmark), New
Orleans (mintmark O), San Francisco (S), Denver (D).
Mintmarks 1. of arrowheads. Physical Specifications,
Authorizing Acts, as before.
Grade range, VERY GOOD to UNC.; not collected below
VERY FINE. FINE: Knot of hair cord visible; partial
feather contours both sides; full date, letters, and
stars, but no central details. VERY FINE: Over half
headband details; hair-cord knot clear; partial internal
details to Indian's feathers; partial details on breast
and leg feathers, over half wing-feather details.
EXTREMELY FINE: Isolated tiny rubbed spots only; partial
mint luster. UNCIRCULATED: No trace of wear; look
on cheekbone, headdress below BE, and shoulder of
wing (below back of eagle's neck). NOTE: Mintmarked
coins are often weak in centers and at mintmarks.
The Philadelphia Mint
returned to the darker matte finish in 1911, although
the grain was somewhat finer. This is the second most
plentiful issue behind the 1908 date, and is available
in virtually all Proof grades, including four coins
graded PF-68 by NGC.
A
consequence of a different kind is the 1916 without
mint-mark S. Though the Philadelphia Mint issued no
half eagles in 1916, at least two survivors lack the
mintmark. These are generally thought to be 1916 S's
weakly struck so that S does not show. The only one
I have examined is strong enough to make that conclusion
dubious. Alternative possibilities include foreign
matter in the die clogging the mintmark, lapping.
1911,
Proof