$189,750.00 USD
The 1910 Indian Head half eagle ($5 gold coin) comes from the early 20th-century era of American coinage redesign inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt. Designed by Bela Lyon Pratt in 1908, the $5 Indian is unique for its incuse (recessed) design – the images and inscriptions are sunken into the coin's surface rather than raised. This was a radical departure from tradition, as it remains one of the only U.S. circulating coins with a recessed design.
Obverse: A left-facing portrait of a Native American chief wearing a detailed feathered headdress, encircled by 13 stars, the word “LIBERTY” above, and the date “1910” below. The design, by Bela Lyon Pratt, showcases bold, sculptural detail made all the more dramatic by the incuse style.
Reverse: An eagle stands on a bundle of arrows with an olive branch intertwined, symbolizing strength and peace. The inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” flank the figure, with “2 1/2 DOLLARS” below.
Despite the higher mintage, numismatists suspect many 1910 proofs went unsold and were later melted. Experts estimate only on the order of 60-75 examples survive today from the 250 struck. In terms of overall rarity, the 1910 is actually "the sixth scarcest of the eight proof half eagle dates," despite its high mintage. This counterintuitive status is explained by its survival rate – many were lost or melted – and makes any high-grade 1910 proof extremely sought after today.
