1914 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin

The 1914 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin is considered rarer than most other Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coins, this includes the Denver and Philadelphia issue. This fact may go unnoticed since relatively few numismatists collect Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coins by date and mintmark, as is typical with many other 20th-century coin issues.

Few Mint State varieties of the Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coins remain, as very few were ever saved in that condition. This is largely due to the fact that coin collectors were not very fond of the Indian Head design at the time the coin was new. Also, the public felt that the incuse design would collect bacteria, which was a concern that was completely unfounded. Today, the Indian Head design, a creation of designer Bela Lyon Pratt, is well revered in the numismatic community and is a prized collectible by every measure.

Grading the 1914 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin

When collectors are considering the purchase of a coin as old as the 1914 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin, their primary concern almost always lies with the condition in which the coin is in. Because these coins are so old and have been circulated quite a bit, they are often in poor condition.

Officially having a coin’s condition judged is something known as grading, and is a process typically reserved for completion by a professional company. Understanding that not everyone can afford to have their coins graded, we have provided some basic specifications below.

Uncirculated: As the name of the grade insinuates, these coins were never circulated and never exchanged hands on the open market. Because they were so well-preserved through the years, these coins have retained all of their imagery and even some of the shine from the luster that was applied at the time of minting. Naturally, these are the most sought after pieces in the eyes of collectors.

Extremely Fine: This is the grade given to Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coins that are in decent overall condition. Though they have been circulated a bit, these coins have retained much of their texture and imagery, and really don’t take on the look of a coin that is a 100 years old. All in all, these pieces have been fairly well-preserved.

Fine: A coin that is graded to be Fine is one that saw a good amount of time in circulation and shows it too. The texture of this coin will have been worn down due to the exchanging of hands over the years, but the major features will still be able to be seen quite easily with the naked eye.

Good: This is the grade given to those coins that were heavily damaged during their time in circulation. These are the coins that stayed in circulation for multiple decades and, as a result, have suffered considerable wear. On these small coins, the imagery and inscriptions will be quite difficult to make out and the coin will generally appear old and used.

Pricing the 1914 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin

When it comes to giving the 1914 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin a price, you must look at two factors very carefully. First, the type of coin must be taken into consideration. Because two types of the Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coins were minted in 1914, this is something to take into consideration. In addition, the overall condition of the coin is something that will assuredly affect the price you pay. By way of the chart below, you can gain a better idea of what you will pay for a graded 1914 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin given its type.