Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature US Coin Sale 1259 7-8 Sep 2017
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Indian Half Eagles
1909-O $5 AU55 PCGS. CAC. Since Bela Lyon Pratt's Indian Head design did not appear until 1908, and the New Orleans Mint closed in 1909, there was little time for production of New Orleans gold coins from the new design. The present 1909-O half eagle is an exception. It is the only New Orleans issue that features the Indian Head design. An article in the March 16, 1909 issue of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reporting on Mint Director Frank Leach's first official visit to the New Orleans Mint, quotes Leach regarding half eagles: "As soon as the local Mint gets through with the silver bullion on hand it will start making five-dollar gold pieces. I had the dies sent here a short time ago." The Louisiana coinage factory produced 34,200 of those half eagles, including this piece that shows a trace of rub on the Indian's cheek and on the high point of the wing on the reverse. Nearly full yellow-gold luster remains with orange toning accents.
HID02901242017
1909-O $5 AU55 PCGS. CAC. Since Bela Lyon Pratt's Indian Head design did not appear until 1908, and the New Orleans Mint closed in 1909, there was little time for production of New Orleans gold coins from the new design. The present 1909-O half eagle is an exception. It is the only New Orleans issue that features the Indian Head design. An article in the March 16, 1909 issue of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reporting on Mint Director Frank Leach's first official visit to the New Orleans Mint, quotes Leach regarding half eagles: "As soon as the local Mint gets through with the silver bullion on hand it will start making five-dollar gold pieces. I had the dies sent here a short time ago." The Louisiana coinage factory produced 34,200 of those half eagles, including this piece that shows a trace of rub on the Indian's cheek and on the high point of the wing on the reverse. Nearly full yellow-gold luster remains with orange toning accents.
HID02901242017