$5 Gold Indian Head Coin

The Gold $5 Indian Head coin is one of only two coins that were designed by sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt.  The only other coin designed by Pratt was the two and a half dollar (2.50) Gold Indian Head.

Like many other extremely popular gold coins from long ago Teddy Roosevelt played an important role in the design, the minting and the specific release of this extremely popular $5 Indian Head gold coin.  It was smaller than many of its predecessors as fractional gold, able to be traded in smaller increments, became more popular.  The face value of the coin, at the time it was released, was five American dollars ($5.00) – hence the name, the $5 Gold Indian.

It was actually Roosevelt’s gold confidant, Dr. William Sturgis Bigelow, who recommended Pratt as the most talented designer of this item at the time.  Pratty was even a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens who designed one of the most iconic gold coins in the history of all precious metals, the $20.00 Saint-Gaudens.  The $5 gold Indian Head was designed to be smaller in size, and subsequently value due to it’s lower gold content, but is no less spectacular than the larger, more valuable coins of their era.  Even as you read this today, you can understand why Americans of the past desired smaller, fractional sized gold items that were easier to use and trade for divisibility, barter and potentially direct trade and sale.  Imagine a cowboy on the open range needing to ask for change for a $20.00 Saint-Gaudens coin and needing something smaller to foot the bill or to make change.  The same holds true even to this very day!

The front of the $5 Indian Gold Coin (referred to as the obverse) displays an exquisite Indian Chief.  An interesting piece of history is that this was the first actual Native American Indian ever to be displayed on United States currency or coinage.  All other currencies before this one typically included a Caucasian model made up in American Indian clothes and headdresses.  This adds immensely to the authenticity of the $5 Gold Indian Head coins and investors seek out and appreciate this genuineness.

The chief on the Indian Head is wearing a full-feathered headdress with the word ‘Liberty’ inscribed above the headband. The back of a coin is referred to as the reverse and on the $5 Gold Indian Head the back features a stunning bald eagle standing among olive branches, surrounded by the words ‘United States of America.’ The motto ‘In God We Trust’ and the denomination of the coin itself also appear on the back of the coin.

Generally speaking, the $5 Gold Indian Head coins are much more rare, and typically valuable, than other coins minted around the same time.  The is due to a shorter mintage timeframe than counterparts such as the $5.00 Gold Liberty coins.

The $5.00 Gold Indian Head coin is available for direct delivery purchase, is available to be purchased for storage and is also available in Goldline’s exclusive Accumulation Program.