Indian $2 1/2 Quarter Eagles, 1908-1929

The "Indian Head" $2.50 Quarter Eagles were designed by Bela Lyon Pratt of Boston, Massachusetts. These coins, as well as the "Indian Head" $5 Half Eagles, are the only United States Federal coins minted using a technique of impressing the design of a coin by striking called incuse. Unlike most other coins, an incuse coin does not have raised edges. Perhaps the most distinguished feature of an incuse coin is the design devices and legend, although still in relief, lie below the plane of the surface of the coin.

The opinion of the general public on this radically new design was mixed; however, it was apparent that some controversy was inevitable. In fact, noted numismatist Samuel Chapman wrote to President Roosevelt at the time, exclaiming that the coins lacked beauty; were easily counterfeited; unhygienic and did not form stacks of equal height. The man who originally suggested the incuse design to the President, Dr, Bigelow, then rebuked Mr. Chapman's remarks to the President. Despite these outbursts, 7,252,147 Indian Head Quarter Eagles were minted between 1908 to 1929. No coins were minted between the years of 1916 and 1924.

The Indian Head Quarter Eagle series is by far the most widely collected series of regular issue, United States Federal gold coins. It consists of 15 Business Strike coins and 8 Proofs. Philadelphia minted coins for each of the 13 years represented in both Business Strike and Proofs. Denver minted Business Strike coins in 1911, 1914 and 1925 only. These coins are quite affordable and are most often found in varying degrees of uncirculated condition, although the total number of remaining coins is less than 1% of the original mintage!

Designed by: Bela Lyon Pratt
Issued Date: 1908-1929
Composition: 0.900 parts gold, 0.100 part copper
Diameter: 18mm
Weight: 64.5 grains
Edge: Reeded
Mint marks: Philadelphia (none); Denver (D); San Francisco (S)
Total Business strike mintage: 7,250,320
Total Proof strike mintage: 1,827

Obverse: Depicts a male Indian head facing left with full-feathered headdress. The legend LIBERTY is above the head. The date minted is below the head. The designer's initials BLP appear above the date. Six stars appear in front of the face and seven behind the head.

The model for the obverse design is reported to be Chief Thundercloud of the Blackfoot tribe. Chief Thundercloud was enlisted in the United States army in 1872 as a scout. After his service, he toured in a theatrical company and eventually met Buffalo Bill, who also entertained the general public with his Wild West show at the turn of the century. Chief Thundercloud then began a full-time career as a professional model for various artists. He was 59 years old before he died in 1916.

Reverse: Depicts an American or white-headed eagle facing left perched on a bundle of arrows with an olive branch secured under leading right talon. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA runs along the circumference above the eagle near the rim. In the field behind and to the left of the eagle is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. In the field in front of and to the right of the eagle is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Below the bundle of arrows and along the circumference below the eagle is the denomination 2 1/2 DOLLARS. The Denver mintmark can be located to the left and at the tips of the arrows.