Tom Luxsox Coins

Head Ngc

America in 1908 was a nation in the midst of wide ranging social and economic change. Headlines of the day sound like they were ripped right from today's news. Women were banned from smoking in public in New York City. A car began production that was advertised to get 25 miles to the gallon. The first "Round the World" car race was staged. New Years Day was celebrated by the famous ball dropping for the first time in New York's Times Square. And the new $5 Indian Head Half Eagle gold coin, as well as its smaller sibling the Quarter Eagle, debuted in November 1908 to great controversy.

President Theodore Roosevelt had determined it was time for the nations coinage to change and become more beautiful. The well known sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt designed the obverse and reverse for the Half Eagle as well as the smaller Quarter Eagle. And the design was controversial from the start. It didn't look like the typical American gold coin with its incuse, or sunken, design. Complaints were made that the portrait of the Native American model appeared emaciated. Banks complained the gold coins were difficult to stack and would be too easy to counterfeit. It was even claimed by some that the coins design would harbor dirt, germs and disease making them a hygiene problem, all of which proved untrue.

Roosevelt let the coins production move forward as planned despite the complaints and the complainers. The $5 Indian Head Half Eagle production lasted only a few, short years from 1908 through 1916. It was resurrected once again in 1929 with a production run of just 662,000 pieces but the majority of those were destroyed before ever leaving the mint. It was the last time a $5 Half Eagle gold coin was to be minted for circulation in the United States. From the time American gold coins were first minted in 1795 to 1916 the $5 gold coin only missed production in 3 years, 1801, 1816 and 1817. It was one of the most successful denominations produced by the U.S. Mint.

Today, the $5 Indian Head Half Eagle is one of the most popular collectible American gold coins. It is relatively inexpensive when compared with its big brother, the $20 St. Gaudens Double Eagle.

The obverse features a proud Native American facing left and wearing a War Bonnet. Around the obverse are 13 stars and the word LIBERTY featured at the top. At the bottom is the year produced and just above the year are the initials of Bela Lyon Pratt. A standing Eagle dominates the reverse of the coin standing on a bundle of arrows. Around the circumference is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, to the left of the Eagle is E PLURIBUS UNUM, to the right the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Physically the coin is 21.60 mm in diameter, weighs 8.359 grams and is .900 pure gold. There are key dates that stand out in this series. Obviously 1929 is one, followed by the 1909-O and 1911-D.

Because of its design it is somewhat difficult to be graded correctly, especially by those unfamiliar with its unique incuse design, because it doesn't have the traditional high spots where you'd normally look for wear. That's why it's important to look for coins that are graded by either PCGS or NGC, or that you know and trust the person from where you are purchasing the coin.

These beautiful American gold coins enjoy a very strong following and sell quickly, especially in certified mint state or about uncirculated condition. They are a great addition to anyones coin collection. The $5 Indian Head Half Eagle is far more popular today than during the time it was produced.

An avid fan and collector of American gold and silver coinage, John Douglas writes extensively on the history and mintage of pre-1933 American Gold Coins. Find in depth information about collecting American Gold Coins, their history and design, and supplies for all coin collectors at http://www.americangoldcoinshop.com

V-Line 460 cc $109 Legal and powerful. You can't get a club with a bigger head or a more forgiving sweet spot, without breaking the Rules of Golf. Super-powerful 460-cc titanium head has sweet spot 5 inches across by 2 7/8 inches high, big enough to forgive virtually every off-center shot.

NGC GOLF Stand Bag $79 Weighs Under 5 Pounds, Holds Everything You Need! Used by seven of the top ten instructors at renowned golf schools around the world.

NGC 281 $19.99 NGC 281 - Photographic Print

NGC 4414 $19.99 NGC 4414 - Premium Poster

NGC 3603 $19.99 NGC 3603 - Photographic Print

NGC 2264 $24.99 Stocktrek Images NGC 2264 - Photographic Print

NGC 2244 $24.99 Stocktrek Images NGC 2244 - Photographic Print

Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC 869 and NGC 884) $24.99 Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC 869 and NGC 884) - Photographic Print

NGC 3603 and NGC 3576 Star Clusters $24.99 Stocktrek Images NGC 3603 and NGC 3576 Star Clusters - Photographic Print

NGC 2264 Nebula $19.99 NGC 2264 Nebula - Photographic Print

NGC 1309 Galaxy $19.99 NGC 1309 Galaxy - Photographic Print

Ngc 3576 and Ngc 3603 Emission Nebulae in Carina $29.99 Robert Gendler Ngc 3576 and Ngc 3603 Emission Nebulae in Carina - Photographic Print

Elliptical galaxy NGC 1275. $19.99 Elliptical galaxy NGC 1275. - Photographic Print

The spiral galaxy NGC 3370 $19.99 The spiral galaxy NGC 3370 - Photographic Print

Clouds of Ngc 1333 $29.99 Robert Gendler Clouds of Ngc 1333 - Photographic Print

Ngc 7129 in Cepheus $29.99 Robert Gendler Ngc 7129 in Cepheus - Photographic Print

Carina Nebula or NGC 3372 $19.99 Carina Nebula or NGC 3372 - Photographic Print

Spiral Galaxy NGC 4921 $124.99 Spiral Galaxy NGC 4921 - Wall Mural

Carina Nebula, NGC 3372 $124.99 Carina Nebula, NGC 3372 - Wall Mural

Loops of NGC 3576 $19.99 Stocktrek Images Loops of NGC 3576 - Photographic Print

Ngc 1055 in Cetus $29.99 Robert Gendler Ngc 1055 in Cetus - Photographic Print

Omega Centauri or NGC 5139 $19.99 Omega Centauri or NGC 5139 - Photographic Print

Core of Galaxy NGC 300 $19.99 Core of Galaxy NGC 300 - Photographic Print

NGC 346 Star Cluster $19.99 NGC 346 Star Cluster - Photographic Print

Ngc 6559 Nebula in Sagittarius $29.99 Robert Gendler Ngc 6559 Nebula in Sagittarius - Photographic Print

The Rosette Nebula and Ngc 2244 $29.99 Robert Gendler The Rosette Nebula and Ngc 2244 - Photographic Print

Ngc 2070, the Tarantula Nebula $19.99 Robert Gendler Ngc 2070, the Tarantula Nebula - Photographic Print

Ngc 3079 and the Lensed Quasar $29.99 Robert Gendler Ngc 3079 and the Lensed Quasar - Photographic Print

Ngc 253, the Sculptor Galaxy $29.99 Robert Gendler Ngc 253, the Sculptor Galaxy - Photographic Print

Ngc 1499, the California Nebula $29.99 Robert Gendler Ngc 1499, the California Nebula - Photographic Print

Bipolar Nebula Ngc 6164-6165 $19.99 Robert Gendler Bipolar Nebula Ngc 6164-6165 - Photographic Print