Even though the 1929 Indian Half Eagle (Buy on eBay) carries a high mintage of 662,000 pieces, it has emerged as one of the top rarities of the series. The majority of the original mintage was held in storage and melted following President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order which recalled gold coins from circulation. This makes surviving examples rare across all grade levels.
Since the pieces did not circulate to a wide extent, most surviving examples are found in uncirculated grades, including more than a dozen pieces in gem condition. While there are many other issues of the series which are scarcer in gem, the allure of the issue continues to captivate collectors. The auction record is held by a piece graded PCGS MS-65 which sold for $102,813 in 2016.
Coin Specifications
- Designer: Bela Lyon Pratt
- Composition: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
- Weight: 8.359 grams
- Diameter: 21.6 mm
- Edge: Reeded
