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In 1908, the Indian Head theme of Bela Lyon
Pratt was introduced on the quarter eagle and half eagle. The design
was unique in American numismatics in that the coin features were
incuse, (i.e. indented) into the surface of the coin, rather than
elevated above, as were all other US coins.
The New Orleans Mint was the last of the three
southern branch mints established in 1838 to remain in service. No on
has been able to
determine why a small mintage of 34,200 half eagles was struck at New
Orleans in 1909. Perhaps someone knew that was to be the final
year of production and decided to give the historic facility a final
hurrah.
As such, the 1909-O Indian Head Half Eagle is a
rare gold coin key date
of high interest to collectors. It is by far the lowest mintage in the
Indian Head Half Eagle series of 1908-1929.
As the popularity of the 1909-O continues to increase, so does its
price. The chart below illustrates the impressive percent value
increase of the 1909-O over a period of many years.
More than a century later, the final gold coin of the New Orleans Mint
has earned everlasting fame in the eyes of numismatists. Could it be
that is what they at the Mint had in mind when they fired up the
coining press one last time?
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