1909-D $5

Description

1909-D Indian Head $5 Gold Coin, PCGS MS-63. This 1909-D Half Eagle represents a significant example from the popular Indian Head $5 series designed by renowned sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt. The Denver Mint issue of 1909 boasts the largest mintage of the entire series at 3,423,560 pieces, yet this particular specimen's MS-63 grade demonstrates the relative scarcity of well-preserved examples in higher grades. Certified by PCGS under certificate number 50961794, this coin combines the accessibility of a common date with the collector appeal of a distinctly superior specimen. The technical specifications reflect the standard composition of pre-1933 U.S. gold coinage: 90% gold and 10% copper, with a weight of 8.36 grams and diameter of 21.6mm. The 1909-D typically exhibits the strong strike quality characteristic of Denver Mint gold issues, and this example displays the desirable "soft" frosty finish often seen on superior specimens. The luster ranges from good to very good—notably superior to the 1908-D counterpart—while color variation from coppery to greenish to bright yellow gold is typical of the issue. While the 1909-D remains the most common date of the series in Mint State due to several significant hoards dispersed during the 1970s and 1980s, locating examples in MS-64 and above becomes substantially more challenging than general market perception suggests. True gem specimens at MS-65 and finer are genuinely rare, making this MS-63 example an accessible entry point for serious collectors seeking quality and historical significance from this iconic series.