1911-D $5 Indian Head PCGS MS63 CAC

Introduction

The 1911-D $5 Indian Head Half Eagle graded PCGS MS63 CAC is a choice Mint State example of one of the key dates in the Indian Head Half Eagle series. Struck at the Denver Mint with a mintage of just 72,500 coins, the 1911-D is particularly scarce in uncirculated condition. Graded MS63 by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), this example also carries CAC approval recognizing its quality and eye appeal within the assigned grade.

History

The Indian Head Half Eagle was introduced in 1908 as part of a broader transformation of American gold coinage during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt created the design, which departed dramatically from traditional U.S. coinage by placing its major design elements below the surface of the coin rather than in raised relief.

The Denver Mint struck only 72,500 Half Eagles in 1911, giving the 1911-D one of the lowest mintages of the entire Indian Head Half Eagle series. A significant portion of the issue entered circulation, while later Treasury melts further reduced the surviving population. Mint State examples are particularly scarce, making the 1911-D an important key date for collectors assembling the series.

Design

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of a Native American wearing a feathered headdress. The inscription LIBERTY appears above, thirteen stars surround the portrait, and the date 1911 appears below. Pratt's distinctive incuse technique places the primary design elements below the surrounding fields.

The reverse depicts a standing bald eagle perched on a bundle of arrows with an olive branch alongside. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, IN GOD WE TRUST, and FIVE DOLLARS complete the design. The D mintmark identifies the coin as a product of the Denver Mint.