$5 Indian Half Eagle

In 1908, the Indian, designed by Bela Lyon Pratt, was first produced. The composition, weight, and diameter of the coin remained the same as the previous Liberty designs, but both the obverse and reverse were drastically altered. The new design matched the new quarter eagle design of the same date. These two series are unique in United States coinage because the design and inscriptions are stamped in incuse, rather than being raised from the surface, meaning that the flat surfaces are the highest points of the coin. The obverse depicted an Indian head wearing a feathered headdress. The reverse depicted a perched eagle with the inscriptions “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “IN GOD WE TRUST”. Production of the half eagle was suspended during World War I and not resumed until 1929, the final year of issue.

Specifications:

Diameter: 21.6 mm
Composition: .900 Gold, .100 Copper
Weight: 8.359 grams, .24187 oz. Pure Gold