#1 Indian Head Princess Buyer Las Vegas & Henderson

History

While the first dollar gold coin was minted in 1849, that series lasted only until 1854 when a new design replaced the familiar Liberty Head Coronet design that had seen use on all denomination gold coins of the period. The second Gold Dollar type, which was minted from 1854 until 1889, was known as the Indian Princess Head Gold Dollar. The most notable difference was a change in the look of Liberty’s head. The obverse design still had the head of Liberty, but instead of the Coronet, she now sported what is referred to as an Indian headdress. Since the three dollar gold coin came out the same year with this same Indian headdress design, it is believed that the change to the dollar coin was meant to mimic the new design. However, the image on the dollar coin had what has become known as a “small head” and the design only lasted three years until 1856, when the design would change again to a “large head” type. This design more closely matched that of the three dollar coin. The new design is also referred to as Type 3 to distinguish it from the small head or Type 2. These distinctions assume that the first issue of one dollar gold coins would be considered the first or Type 1. The new Type 3 design would remain in place until the end of the one dollar gold series in 1889. The Indian Princess Head dollar coin series was minted at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, Dahlonega and Charlotte mints.

The obverse or front of the coin, as mentioned, displays the head of Liberty with her hair running down her neck and wearing an Indian headdress. No longer are the thirteen stars present; instead the words “United States Of America” surround the head of Liberty. The reverse of the coin still displays a wreath, albeit much more ornate than the Type 1 design. Inside the wreath is the denomination and date of mintage. The mintmark appears just below the wreath at the bottom of the coin.

Value

Like the Type 1 design, there are various factors that go into determining the value of the Indian Princess Head gold dollars. First, there is the gold content. The diameter of the Type 2 and Type 3 Gold Dollar piece was increased to 15 mm, however the overall weight remained unchanged at 1.672 grams. Since they were made with 90% gold, (the other 10% is copper added for durability), one aspect of their value is based on that gold content. While they continued to have a “1 Dollar” face value, their intrinsic value, tied to the gold content, equates to 0.04837 of a troy ounce. This means that regardless of other factors, these coins will always be worth an amount equal to their gold weight consistent with the current gold spot price or “melt value”. Other determiners of value include scarcity, variety, mintmark and condition.

Many of the common dates in the series in lower grade condition do not carry a premium much above their gold content. Prices for common date coins do not start to exceed their gold content value until you reach very fine or better condition coins. Branch mint coins, especially the Dahlonega and Charlotte minted coins carry a substantial premium. Coins from these mints also have significantly lower mintages and are therefore quite valuable with prices reaching from tens of thousands to over one hundred thousand dollars in higher mint state, (certain proof coins have exceeded $300,000). The 1855 D, 1856 D and 1861 D are uniquely rare, all of which command prices in excess of $100,000 in high mint state. The 1861 D in particular is a unique coin as it was minted under the auspices of the Confederacy during the beginnings of the Civil War.

Because there are so many varied opinions on the condition (or grade) of a coin, the values mentioned reflect the highest retail prices that have been obtained for those coins that have been assessed by a third party grading company. Such coins have been authenticated, graded and encapsulated by expert coin grading companies to minimize any doubt as to their authenticity, quality and value and therefore their potential worth.

We Buy Indian Princess Head Gold Dollar Coins

We want to buy your coins and as a business it is our pledge to offer you the best value for your coins, however, always remember that the prices you may find online or in price guides usually represent the highest retail value for the coin in an already certified condition. As a trusted dealer we will have our coin specialists evaluate your coins at no cost and offer you a price that is both fair for you, but that also allows us to realize a reasonable profit.