1861 Gold Dollar (1861 G$1) ANACS AU55. Civil War 1861 One Dollar Gold. This well struck, Civil War dated, gold dollar has lovely, original surfaces. Some mint luster remains within its devices. The feathers are sufficiently separated at their tips as is the hair above Libertys eye to support the grade. For the issue the strike is strong on both sides of the coin. Designed by James B. Longacre, the coin shows Liberty wearing a stylized feather headdress as she looks to the left in profile. She is surrounded by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The reverse shows an open wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco tied at the bottom with a bow. In the center of the wreath is the denomination written as a large 1 with DOLLAR under it followed by the date.

The problem with this coin was that it did not strike up well. In fact mint state examples looked worn and, in some cases, so circulated that the date could not be read. To remedy this situation, Longacre redesigned the Indian Head dollar. While the design was similar to the previous issue, Longacre lowered the relief and moved the obverse head so as not to be opposite a reverse relief area. This coin is called the Large Size or Large Head of which the present coin is an example.