Indian Head gold pieces
The Indian Head gold pieces or Pratt-Bigelow gold coins were two separate coin series, identical in design, struck by the United States Mint. The two pieces were struck until World War I caused gold to vanish from circulation, and then again in the late 1920s. These coins were the last of their denominations to be struck for circulation, ending series that began in the 1790s.
About Indian Head gold pieces in brief
The Indian Head gold pieces or Pratt-Bigelow gold coins were two separate coin series, identical in design, struck by the United States Mint. The two pieces were struck until World War I caused gold to vanish from circulation, and then again in the late 1920s. These coins were the last of their denominations to be struck for circulation, ending series that began in the 1790s. President Theodore Roosevelt, from 1904, vigorously advocated new designs for United States coins, and had the Mint engage his friend, the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to design five coins that could be changed without congressional authorization. The eagle featured Liberty wearing an Indian headdress on the obverse and a perched bald eagle on the reverse. The double eagle featuredLiberty striding forward on theObverse and flying eagle on reverse. In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt stopped the issuance of gold in coin form, and recalled many pieces which were in private or bank hands. The half eagle was struck from 1908 to 1916, and in 1929. The pieces remain the only US circulating coins with recessed designs. The coins were designed by Boston sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt at the request of the President’s friend, William Sturgis Bigelow. The Mint had difficulty fitting the required inscriptions on the small gold coins. Due to the difficulties with the two larger coins, little attention was given to the half eagle and quarter eagle until late 1907.
In May 1907, President Roosevelt decided that the eagle and double eagle would bear very different designs, a departure from past practice. In April 1908, he convinced Mint Director Frank Leach that it would be a better idea to strike a design similar to that of the eagle, but below the background, to secure a high-relief effect. The quarter eagle saw popularity as a Christmas present, and was struck in 1914 and 1915. In 1915, the Mint struck the quarter eagle and the five-dollar coin, or half eagle, from 1914 to 1915 and from 1925–1929. On the double eagle, the inscription ‘Euribus Unum’ is placed on the edge of the edge, about the size of the pieces of the nickel and dime. In August 1907, outgoing Mint Director George E. Roberts wrote in a letter that thedouble eagle design was to be used for the two small gold pieces. On November 28, 1907, Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber wrote that the Eagle design would be used upon them. On December 2, Mint DirectorFrank Leach instructed the Philadelphia Mint to prepare coinage dies for the small pieces, using the double Eagle design. On January 1, 1908, Mint Superintendent John Landis forwarded a letter to Leach with his own note, stating that it will be difficult to put the inscription on the ‘EURibus Unm’ on the periphery of the quarter, but I do not see where else it can be used. He planned to use his own version of low relief.
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This page is based on the article Indian Head gold pieces published in Wikipedia (as of Oct. 31, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
