Why do people like the $10 Indian better than the $5 Indian?
topstuf
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MOST seem to like the design better, but it seems harder to find the 5 than the 10.
Me, I kinda prefer the 5 as it's more realistic.
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Comments
Duh, the $10 Indian has twice as much gold.
I don't think people really like the incused design of the 5. They are difficult to grade. I think people like the more traditional design of the 10.
Finding a really nice Mint State $5 Indican is very hard. I don't care what the bids say. The incuse design with the fields as the highest part of the design was very prone ot marks and circulation.
PLUS there is the St. Gaudens designed it thing and the "bigger is better" thing.
The $10 is really Lady Liberty.
From a pure design standpoint, personally, I think the No Motto Indian Eagle is one the prettiest coins out there...in fact, I like the design even better than his Double Eagle.
The '07 is a special case.
For me anyhow.
I've always thought it strange as native women never wore headdresses but lets put one Liberty?
The five looks authentic
The headdress on a Caucasian woman was Theordore Roosevelt's idea. It didn't make sense, but TR specified it as one of his guidelines for St. Gadens' designs. If you look carefully, you will see a headdress on the early designs for the St. Gaudens double eagle.
Longacre did the same with the Indian head cent, much earlier.
An attractive, imaginative, almost dreamy idealized design with the headdress. St.G and his school were very talented, but Teddy was crazy as a hoot owl and an imperialist to boot.
And still they carved TR's face on the side of the mountain.
I live in Indian country in western SD. Maybe I missed it but headdresses are worn by male Native leaders. Western female figures wearing them reiterates how misunderstood the whole culture is.
Pretty coin though until you stop to think about the subject matter. Honoring Indians on coins is great but you gotta get it right. The 2.5 and 5 do, the 10 and cent, not so much. That's just me. Apparently to most folks it's no big deal.
The way things are going, there will prob be a sheet over Rushmore someday.
No comment as to why...but I don't really care for The 5's but love the 10's!
I expect that Stone Mountain will be dynamited any day now.
Much like the Taliban dynamited those giant old religious statues in Afghanistan.
Stone Mountain before Mt. Rushmore.
Pratt's sunk-relief was not an effective approach to coins. Further, William Bigelow's claims were entirely false, and directly led to the demise of the $2.50 in 1930.
As for headdresses, those were a personal affectation of President Roosevelt. It was entirely inappropriate on Saint-Gaudens' Nike Erini (the actual female portrait on the $10).
TR wanted original American coins that would match or beat the coins of classical antiquity. He was looking to leave to some distinctly American coin archetypes for a distant posterity.
IMHO, he was not seeking a strict copy job of Greek types. Of course, Greece (via Rome) was the principal origin of our Western Civilization and that influence is hard to avoid. Whether or not it all worked is debatable, although I will acknowledge in advance that Roger B. should be able to win any debate.
TR wasn't being wild. Perhaps he had seen the earlier "North America" statuary group at The Prince Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, London.
Design wise, I much prefer the $5 because of it's realism.
Same goes for the Buffalo 5c, but that coin has the added attraction of its outstanding high relief. And the Bison on the reverse too, of course.
Every man's worst fear... Size does matter.
Another view
I much prefer the Five Dollar gold Indian... Very realistic, detailed and unique, being incuse. Far more attractive than the Ten Dollar coin. Cheers, RickO
all coins have inner beauty or just our right great looks, enjoy the coins you like and collect, there are enough for all coin people, one mans junk is another mans treasure
I like the 10 a lot but choose the 5, as it is an actual native American, so it is 'real indian'.
Also think that the incused design is cool.
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I like the $10 Indian, especially the raised stars on the edge. Always thought that was so cool.
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I don't see the reason for the consternation over lady liberty wearing a male headdress. Clearly, she identifies as a man.
My preference would be the $10, it just has that classy look to it. Wouldn't snub my nose at the $5, just like the $10 better.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
I like the $2 1/2 and $5 designs better, but still love the $10.
TR employed real talent from time to time, the best and the brightest. The Greek revival motifs represented impressive designs vs. the workhorse and practical coins of the 1800s. This reminds me of the Matthew Arnold essay from "Culture and Anarchy". http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/arnold/writings/4.html
I LOVE the $5. Especially fyi or s mints with killer field luster.
The $10 is attractive as well.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
No matter what anyone says size does matter
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I also much prefer the $5.
I have a few half eagle Indians. I find the design very attractive.
Bigger!
Kind regards,
George
But NOW......let's take this to another level and imagine a 10 or 20 in the incuse Indian design!!
Bye bye St G....Hello Pratt !!
You'll pay a much higher premium above spot for a nice $5 Indian than for a nice $10 Indian.
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I don't think so. Attractive as the portrait is, the heavy coins would have wreaked havoc on each other's fields, and even the few that escaped the beating wouldn't be terribly lustrous.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I've been trying to buy an all there 1908 $5 Indian in 65 for years without success. A much tougher coin then the $10 in gem mint
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Here is an "all there" MS-64. I bought this at a time when these were bid higher, so I have too much money in it, but since it's the only one I have for the type, that's okay.
I got this 63 yesterday.
You can get a $10 closer to spot than a $5.
And you can get a SBA for face value.
Case closed....... Anthony dollars RULE!
It's bigger and I like the Eagle better
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Bigger with more blank space (less crowded) leading towards a little better aesthetic. Headdress is a bit more appealing to me as well. I prefer the No Motto versions the most.
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That is because it is a lot more common and easier to get.
Plus, almost all lower weight gold carries a higher premium, whether it be coins, bullion, bars, rounds, etc....
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I picked the $5 as a collector the 1908-1916 year set is affordable as well as low mintages / survival rates. Other than the 1929, 1909 0 and a couple that will cost you over a grand in AU (11 D+ 08 S) the rest are within reach on collector budgets
I don't collect gold but prefer the 10 because the design is better....to me at least. Maybe someday I will do a type set.
maybe some native woman should climb up there and carve a headdress on it
Much prefer the $10 - especially the 1907 wire edge. Not a big fan of the inches $5 and $2.5.
Are we comparing apples to apples??
The $10 Eagle is a great looking coin and it certainly has lots going for it. Larger visually, greater gold content, higher face value, and a legendary creator. The overall design is pleasing and the eagle on the reverse is right there among the best ever executed on a U.S. coin, in my opinion.
That said, I like the $2.50/$5.00 Indians better. I LOVE the fabulous obverse AND reverse designs. The incuse details are visually fascinating and extremely realistic, not to mention completely unique in all of American numismatics. When you view an extremely high grade example, these coins are breathtaking. Personally, I don't know that this design would translate well to a $10/$20 coin. I think the smaller size adds to their charm.