Pratt’s Indian Head Quarter and Half Eagles

I SAW MY first U.S. gold coin, an Indian Head quarter eagle ($2.50 gold piece), about 65 years ago. To say it was love at first sight is an understatement.

My family had recently moved to a new subdivision, and my father and I were visiting a man in the neighborhood who my father knew collected coins. My memory is nonexistent on what other coins we might have seen, but I do remember getting the opportunity to hold a circulated quarter eagle. I was struck at the time with the thought that it was significantly heavier than I thought it would be, given its size.

The Red Book (A Guide Book of United States Coins) value of a circulated Indian Head $2.50 gold piece at the time was less than $20. In fact, there were only two dates that listed for more than $20, the 1911-D ($165) and the 1914 ($21). Did I rush out and buy a few or ask for one as a Christmas present? Of course not. At the time, I was focused on Lincoln cents, Buffalo nickels, and Jefferson nickels, particularly the 1950-D. It was only many years later that I thought about collecting any U.S. gold.

Not only