Indian Head Half and Quarter Eagle Coins
DuncanWylieWilson
Posts: 98 ✭✭
Hello all!
I recently acquired three Indian Head coins and would like to share some images of them with you all to get your thoughts. I acquired a 1913 Indian Head half eagle, a 1911 Indian Head quarter eagle and a 1914 Indian Head quarter eagle. None of these coins are officially slabbed or graded, but the 1914 coin in particular is very appealing to the eye. The only concern I have pertains to the lustre boasted by the 1913 half eagle. As you can see from the photos, the 1913 half eagle has a noticeably different lustre. It is not so apparent in person, but still marginally noticeable. The photos do exaggerate it, but really just wanted to share what photos I have with you to get your thoughts. Always interested in second opinions.
Please feel free to comment on my coins - whether it is about condition or otherwise. Also feel free to post pictures of your own Indian Head coins. Can't get enough of these!
Paid just under $1000 for the three. I love the 1914 quarter eagle here, and there is a 1914-D quarter eagle on the way which is a choice BU!
Looking forward to your responses.
Cheers!
Duncan.
Comments
I have a digital magnifier and when comparing the fine details of my 1913 Indian Head half eagle to NGC-photographed examples, the details are absolutely and unequivocal 1:1! Also, I have read that common counterfeits of the 1913 Indian Head half eagle show tool marks around the 3 in the date 1913, but it doesn't always seem possible to distinguish a light tool mark from a mark obtained through circulation and wear and tear.
For those of you who are interested, I have attached two highly magnified pictures of two important part of my 1913 Indian Head half eagle. The 'zigzag' details in the Indian head dress are absolutely identical to well-photographed examples online.
I have taken a magnified photo of the suspicious depression around the 4 in the 1914 date on my quarter eagle and it appears to show tool marks. Would any of you agree with my analysis? Take a look!
Possible tool marks around the start of the arrow stack and above the large 2 in the 2 1/2 denomination, or damage sustained through circulation?
Can any of you fine gentlemen spot tool marks in the recess at the back of the Indian's neck on this 1911 Indian Head quarter eagle? Looking for a second opinion. I can't quite tell myself!
I should note that the 1914 Indian Head quarter eagle I have was purchased from a highly reputable dealer who herself acquired it from Dix Noonan Webb UK-leading coin specialist auction house. Also had a reputable UK coin dealer have a look at the photos I’ve shown here and he said he has no issue with it.
Still, would be delighted to hear opinions of members here on this forum. This is my first post!
As you’ll see from the photos, the weights and diameters are absolutely textbook, and none of the coins I have here are in any way attracted to a neodymium magnet. They’re definitely gold, but are they authentic? 🤔
Welcome to the forum Duncan!
Congrats on your new coins.
All appear genuine to me, I'm sure one of the experts here will be along to help more.
The pictures make it hard to tell, but the 1914 appears to have a little luster unlike the others. Also is a much better date. I would consider getting just the 1914 slabbed.
Jbknifeandcoin.com
IG: jb_rarities
Not too much over melt. Not bad for those coins.
Thank you for the warm welcome!
I have a few Indian Head half and quarter eagles, but even though I am relatively familiar with them and have plenty of reference texts, some of the counterfeits are so good that I like to seek other opinions. If any of these are counterfeits they are unbelievably good. As you say, hopefully an expert or two will pop along to pass their judgement.
Thank you for your input!
Yes, these coins are rather difficult to photograph. Always look better in person too! I have considered getting the 1914 Indian Head quarter eagle graded and slabbed - that's if it's real!
I am one of the peculiar creatures who prefers raw coins. Given that this is the only series of coins I collect, I like being able to analyse them under my digital magnifier and take them out and photograph them as and when I wish. Having them slabbed makes this a little more challenging. I am also based in the UK and there is a tendency towards a preference for raw coins over here.
Have bought all but one of my Indian Head quarter eagles in raw form.
Thank you fro your input to the discussion!
Yes, not too bad at all. Sometimes buying a fair bit over melt when searching for a good gold coin isn't so bad of an idea either. Gold is a fairly reliable medium to long-term investment.
Do you have any Indian Head half or quarter eagles yourself?
Thanks for your contribution!
Yes.
@DuncanWylieWilson.... Welcome aboard.... Very nice gold Indians.... My favorite gold coin. They all appear authentic to me... Those marks appear to be contact marks. I have a 1909D $5, raw, that is a favorite. Cheers, RickO
Thank you very much for the warm welcome!
It's a really beautiful series. Today I received a raw 1908-D Indian Head half eagle. Absolutely delighted with it. No quads about it at all given it was purchased from a highly reputable coin company in England with countless accreditations and credentials. I shall post some pictures of that later on.
I am also waiting on the arrival of a 1914-D Indian Head quarter eagle. Will be sharing this with the community also.
Out of interest, what sort of condition is your 1909D $5 coin in? Not looking for NGC-level analysis, just a relative interpretation!
My 1908-D half eagle has a small rim ding, but nothing drastic. It's in lovely shape. I shall get some nice photos of it tonight.
Thanks for your contribution to the discussion!
@DuncanWylieWilson.... Mine is raw in a 2x2..... I would say it is high AU....Cheers, RickO
Nice pics and nice coin
That's nice! Not got that one yet myself, but here is my 1908-D...
Out of interest, is that little rim ding enough to put anybody off from this coin? Thoughts?
Thanks! You have any from this series?
Hi Duncan. Nice group of gold you have going... especially when you buy them for melt.
Most of my quarter Indians have similar marks and they are graded. Don’t sweat the small dings.
No. That tiny rim nick wouldn't even be visible in the older pre-prong slabs.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Nice coins! One has damage on the reverse above the 2, so would not straight grade. The others may have a chance. These are my favorite coins for sure. Here is my toned Indian set:
Other than the damage, do you think my 1914 quarter eagle is authentic? Also, that is an absolutely stunning set! Seriously, that is immensely impressive! How long did it take you to put that together? Did you buy any of these coins in raw form?
Stunning!
Thank you very much for your input here, and your opinion. The reason I was dubious about my 1914 Indian Head quarter eagle is it is the second rarest in the series after the famed 1911-D and given what I paid, I wasn't holding out. That being said, the dealer was incredibly reputable and I have now had two other specialists look at it and they don't have a problem with it.
I do agree with some that getting it graded may not be a good idea given the damage around the 2 1/2 denomination mark. I just appreciate the series and I am always trying to learn more about how to authenticate. Some of the counterfeits are absolutely phenomenal!
I have a couple of great reference books on them so that always helps!
Cheers!
I suppose it's just a mark obtained during the coin's life in circulation! Given that they are 90% gold, such marks are common place! Just glad it's not on the obverse! That side is mighty pretty...
Welcome aboard! You are braver than I, as I could not bring myself to buy these raw.
I am also a big fan of the incuse Indians.
I also don’t think that rim ding is going to to hurt the value of that 08-D much of any.
Thanks for the welcome and sharing pictures of your own Indian Head quarter eagles. Those are beautiful examples! I will acquire those dates myself soon enough! I know it can be very much daunting buying expensive raw gold coins, but what's life without a little risk, hehe?! No I totally won't slam you for buying graded. The only reason I don't tend to buy graded is I like to closely examine, measure and weight mine - something which is almost impossible once they are slabbed. Also like getting them out when I am going through my reference texts.
So, would you never buy raw then?
Thank you for your input. Much appreciated!
I bought most of my toned set raw, but all are currently straight graded with pcgs. I have been collecting these long enough that I feel confident buying raw, but there are a decent amount of fakes out there. So is it the 1914 that has the reverse damage?
Unless the 1914 $2.5 is mint state it's probably not worth the cost of getting it slabbed.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Yes, after a while it’s more than possible to get comfortable with identification and authentication. Are yours all slabbed? How did you get them all nice and photographed like that, haha?
Yes, it’s the 1914 quarter eagle that has the damage above the 2 1/2 denomination. Here is another couple pictures...
All of the ones in my toned set are slabbed and graded by pcgs, and they are the ones that took the pictures. Unfortunately the 1914 will probably not straight grade, so is not worth getting graded. All appear to be genuine though.
I don't buy these raw because I'm new enough to them to where I'm not confident enough to make good buying decisions, and what I've come across on ebay are either such poor photos I can't make a determination, or not what I'm looking at in terms of building a date set anyway. I have no problem buying expensive raw coins in the series I specialize in, which are walkers, buffalo nickels and standing liberty quarters.
Has anybody here heard of this dealer?: https://www.flgoldcoinexchange.com/about
I bought my 1914-D Indian Head quarter eagle from here. It's run by a guy called Alex Turchak. He is an NGC Authorised Dealer.
BTW these are my favorite series as well. The $2.5 particularly because its small and easy to focus on, and was a favorite from when I was a tiny kid.
Jbknifeandcoin.com
IG: jb_rarities
My favourite series too. It's actually the only coin series I collect. I do marginally prefer the quarter eagles over the half eagles, but it's also nice to see all the details on the larger coin. Beautiful work by Bela Lyon Pratt!!! It's really nice to hear that it's been a favourite of yours since you were a kid. Do you recall when you got your first Indian Head quarter eagle?
Jbknifeandcoin.com
IG: jb_rarities
@clarkbar04 not sure how you managed to misalign the first photos, but lit made me laugh
loving the set your getting going.
@jwitten wins. (again... as usual)
Jbknifeandcoin.com
IG: jb_rarities
I am not sure but I was probably 9 or 10. Now im 37. I don't have my first one anymore and there are quite a few I regret selling.
Jbknifeandcoin.com
IG: jb_rarities
It's nice to hear you have stuck at it all these years. Ah, we all have regrets! We learn from our decisions.
Any tips on where I could pick up a toned Indian half or quarter eagle? Happy to buy raw if it looks good. 
"You are braver than I, as I could not bring myself to buy these raw.
I am also a big fan of the incuse Indians."
My sentiments exactly, Jeremy.
Gentlemen, I really do not hold that sentiment against you. I really don’t. When you’re spending a lot on coins, TPGs act as a safety net. That being said, for me there is definitely some magic in buying raw coins and inspecting them for yourself. I’m still learning a lot, but I have discover a lot by buying raw and conferring with reference books and online forums. It definitely has its place.
If I bought a coin I really really wanted and it was already slabbed, I would actually break it out and put it in a capsule which I could open when I wanted. I always like being able to go back and take whatever coin I want out to study it or compare it with literature.
As I said, I only collect the half and quarter Indian Head series, so it’s worth me building up my knowledge around it.
The Indian gold $2.5 and $5 coins are very heavily counterfeited so cracking these coins out of top tier slabs will hurt their market valve and make them less liquid in the marketplace.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
I understand that. It is in the same way that it is harder to sell small fractional gold bars and bullion if they are not in assayed-cases. I have investments in gold which I will sell in the future, but I will never sell my half and quarter eagle Indian heads. I know that the row over raw and slabbed examples is an intense one, but each to their own. Much prefer raw coins.
I also think it is peculiar that a coin could be graded at MS 61, be cracked out and resubmitted and come back as an AU grade of sorts. Shows the inconsistency in the grading. Experts they may be, but there is very rarely hardline consistency.
It is just as easy to miss out on a really nice coin just because it isn't slabbed as it is to get screwed over. There are many many many quality counterfeits, it through time it is possible to detect them. I always seek second opinions though. I value what others show too. Always like it when people here post pictures of their own prized coins - graded or otherwise.
Thanks for your input!
Latest addition to the collection courtesy of the FL GOLD COIN EXCHANGE: https://www.flgoldcoinexchange.com/
Looks like a nice coin with the exception of the rim damage on the reverse at 1:00.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Agreed! These coins are rather problematic to photograph, haha! But yes, other than the little rim damage it is a lovely coin. Will post another photo of the group soon enough.