1908 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin

The 1908 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin replaced the Liberty Head Quarter which was in production since 1840. The Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin features a left-facing Indian wearing a headdress on the obverse and a standing eagle on the reverse. Featuring a left-facing Indian on the obverse and a standing eagle on the reverse, the Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin has a sunken design, one of only two U.S. coins minted so far to feature an incuse design. The only other coin like it is the Indian Head half eagle, also designed by Pratt.

When the Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin was first introduced, the coin was panned for its incuse design, which many people falsely believed would harbor bacteria. The coin’s design from the artistic standpoint was also disregarded by many numismatists, and therefore relatively few specimens of these coins were saved in the higher grades.

Grading the 1908 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin

As is the case with any coin sought after by collectors, the condition of the piece is everything. Even though these coins are over 100 years old, there are still quite a few remaining in tip-top shape. Although difficult to find, it is easy to see why collectors are willing to pay top-dollar for an Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin that has been well-preserved.

Under normal circumstances, a coin’s condition is judged through a grading process executed by a professional organization. Understanding that not everyone can afford to send their coins away for grading, we have provided below an outline of what you might expect coins of certain grades to look like.

Uncirculated: An uncirculated coin is one that saw no time being exchanged on the open market. Instead, these pieces were kept in storage throughout their entire lives and did not have the chance to be damaged or worn. Because of their pristine condition, uncirculated coins are the most sought after.

Extremely Fine: To receive an Extremely Fine grade, the coin in question will have had to have spent a little bit of time in circulation. Though these coins will undoubtedly show some signs of wear and tear, it will be difficult to make out this wear with the naked eye. These coins are also of great value to all collectors.

Fine: Fine is the grade given to those coins that spent some time in circulation such that they have been lightly tarnished and/or damaged. Coins of this grade will show visible signs of wear, but the coin’s imagery will remain intact and able to easily be made out with the naked eye.

Good: Good is the grade given to an Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin that has seen an extended period of time in circulation. The condition of these coins can best be described as poor, and the damage you will see will be extensive. Though these coins are in fairly poor shape, they are still great additions to any collection as they are more than 100 years old and quite rare.

Pricing the 1908 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin

In terms of determining a price for the Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin, this is something that can first and foremost be done by viewing the condition of the coin and its associated grade. Naturally, it goes without saying that the more well-preserved a coin is, the higher the price is going to be. Below, we have a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what to expect to pay for a graded 1908 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin.