1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle ($5) Gold Coin

1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle ($5) Gold Coin
Photo Credit: coingalleryofbocaraton2

1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle ($5) Gold Coin

Buy It Now Price: $469.99 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a lovely example of a 1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle gold coin that was struck in Philadelphia.  A half eagle is another name for an old $5 U.S. gold coin.

-The coin measures 21.6 mm (0.85 inches) in diameter and weighs 8.359 grams (0.26875 troy ounces).

-Almost all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins - including this one - were struck in an alloy composed of 90% gold and 10% copper.  Therefore, this 1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle gold coin contains 7.523 grams (0.24187 troy ounces) of pure gold.

-The Indian Head design of the U.S. half eagle (as well as the quarter eagle) gold coins were created by famed early 20th century American sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt.  They are the only coins the United States has ever struck that are incuse, with the design sunk below the surface of the coin.

-$5 was a considerable sum of money in 1913.  To put this amount into context, a skilled laborer working in a major U.S. city might have earned 50 cents an hour in 1913.  A loaf of bread cost a scant 6 cents and a dozen eggs a mere 30 cents.

-Large numbers of pre-1933 U.S. gold coins were melted down by the Federal Government after gold was nationalized in 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression.  Consequently, the surviving population of old U.S. gold coins is dramatically smaller than their original mintages would initially suggest.

-Our 1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle gold coin is in Choice About Uncirculated (AU-55 or possibly AU-58) condition.  This means it only has a touch of wear on the very highest points of the design.  This coin is one small step away from being a fully Uncirculated coin.

-Because of its high condition, this 1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle gold coin still retains a fair amount of its original mint luster, which helps contribute to its superb eye appeal.

-With spot gold trading at $1,248.40 per troy ounces, this 1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle gold piece has a bullion value of approximately $302.  With an asking price of $470, this translates into a premium over melt value of 55.6%.  A premium of this amount is actually fairly modest considering the beauty, condition and historical significance of the item.

 

Other Semi-Numismatic U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle Gold Coins

Cons:

-This 1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle gold coin is raw, meaning uncertified by a third-party grading agency.  Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins that are certified by either NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) or PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) usually command small premiums over similar raw coins and are slightly more liquid in the secondary market.

-The mintage of 1913 U.S. Indian Head Half Eagle gold coins was sizable, at 916,000 pieces.  As a result, they are considered common date coins.  However, while a mintage of nearly one million pieces might seem large, it is actually quite small compared to modern coin issuance which often runs into the billions.

-Because it is a semi-numismatic U.S. gold coin, the value of this piece will fluctuate with both the price of gold bullion and the fortunes of the broader U.S. economy.  Depending on your economic outlook, this could be either a strength or a weakness.

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