A very nice looking 1929 $2.50 Gold Indian. The design is wonderful but the public didn’t like it as the entire design is incluse. It was thought to contain bugs that would make you ill due to the design.
It was also the last quarter Eagle issued by the U.S. There has not been another one. Unlike its $5 big sister, the price is affordable.
Yep. Pretty sure they would have gotten a lower bacterial count from a random $2.50 Indian than a random $2 horse blanket and a fifty-cent piece. But, hey, scientific evidence wasn't any more respected then than it is now. I didn't like that incuse design at all when I first saw it. It's grown on me, but not enough to make me think it was ever a good idea.
I assembled this series a few years ago in AU 55. Good times. Had difficulty locating a 1929 in 55 and ended up going w/ a nice 63. That's the only non-55 I have in it. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/completed-2-50-indian-set-album.349094/
Isn't it ironic? Often times the flaws behind an otherwise great idea don't show until it's put into practice. The incused design is less susceptible to wear and will remain sharp longer. Yet it didn't work out. I remember reading an article from John Milton. Aside from the germs, the fields (being higher than the devices) got all scratched up and made the coins look bad.
I love these. They are my favorite US design and they are one of the most counterfieted coins on the market.
Nice coin. I had 1 of these once , but sold it during hard times. Whenever I get out of credit card debt I will get 1 again. I like the design.
There was an article published in The Numismatist soon after the incuse designs were introduced which stated that the recessed ares in the design would dirt traps that would spread disease.
It didn’t come from mint officials. As I remember it, it was some guy’s opinion. I will have to look it up in the old book, Selections from The Numismatist, U.S. Coins.
I'm interested in buying one of these. What are the signs that it might be counterfeit please. Thanks for your help.