1/2-oz Silver Incuse Indian Head

Classic Incuse Indian Designs As They Were Meant To Be Seen

In the history of the United States coinage, only two circulating coins were ever struck with an incuse design where the design sits below the surface of the coin rather than above it—the $2.50 and $5 Gold Indians. The theory was that by recessing their design, the coins would last longer. Sadly, this was not the case, but the theory did lead to the creation of some of the most unique coins ever struck by the United States Mint!

One Of The Shortest-Lived Series In U.S. Coin History

One of the shortest-lived series in U.S. coin history, the 1908-1929 “Gold Indian” $2.50 and $5 coins are collector favorites today. People love the magnificent portrait of an authentic-looking Native American on the obverse and the proud Bald Eagle on the coin’s reverse. But what really sets these coins apart is their recessed or incused design—which was basically a reverse of the normal die in that the design was pressed into the coin rather than the typical coin where the design rises outward from the coin. Designed by Boston sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt, the $2.50 Gold Indians were struck from 1908 to 1915 and again from 1925-1929. The $5 Gold Indians were struck from 1908 to 1916 and again for one last time in 1929. These were the last $2.50 “Quarter Eagle” and $5 “Half Eagle” denominations to be struck for circulation, ending a run that began in the 1790s!

A Great Addition To Anyone’s Collection

Now you can see these magnificent designs struck as bullion rounds in a half ounce of highly pure 99.9% fine silver. Though they are not legal tender, they feature the same designs as the original Gold Indians last struck nearly a century ago. And, at 32 mm in diameter, they’re not only larger than a modern Kennedy Half Dollar, they’re also between 48% and 78% larger than the original $5 and $2.50 coins that measured only 21.6 mm and 18 mm in diameter! At this size, you can really see the designs as Bela Lyon Pratt meant them to be seen! A great addition to anyone’s collection add one—or several—of these Half-Ounce Silver Incuse Indians to your cart right now!