The Indian Head $5 Gold Coin is one of two beautiful coins (also the Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin) designed by Sculptor, Bela Lyon Pratt. Like the $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coin, President Theodore Roosevelt was instrumental in the revamp of this smaller size coin. Roosevelt’s friend, Dr. William Sturgis Bigelow, recommended Pratt, a former student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Indian Head $5 Gold Coin Design – The front side of the coin depicts an Indian Chief in full headdress with the word “LIBERTY” inscribed at the top of the coin. A border of 13 stars encircles the coin, and the minting date is printed at the bottom of the coin. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” are inscribed on the reverse side of the coin along with the denomination. The proud bald eagle standing over an olive branch also appears on the opposite side of the coin.

Indian Head $5 Gold Coin Minting – The $5 and $2.50 Indian Head Gold Coins are set apart from other US coins in that they were the first (and only) US gold coins to use the “incuse” technique instead of the traditional relief technique. This technique revealed lettering that was recessed instead of raised.

COIN SPECIFICATIONS