1908 Half Eagle Pattern - J-1923

Coin Details

Description

Judd-1923 is a pattern for the 1908 Indian Head half eagle, the $5 companion to Pratt's quarter eagle in the incuse gold coinage series. Bela Lyon Pratt's design for the half eagle is essentially identical to the quarter eagle — a left-facing Liberty in a Native American feathered headdress on the obverse and a standing eagle on arrows with olive branch on the reverse — but scaled to the larger five-dollar planchet. The incuse technique produces a subtly different visual effect on the half eagle due to the larger field area, with the recessed design elements creating broader shadow patterns and a more expansive flat field surrounding the devices. Pratt's relationship with Augustus Saint-Gaudens informed his artistic approach, and the incuse format extended Saint-Gaudens' design philosophy to the smaller gold denominations in a way that conventional raised relief could not. The half eagle design entered production in 1908 alongside the quarter eagle and continued through 1929, sharing the same controversial reception and eventual critical appreciation. This pattern preserves the design at the experimental stage before adoption for regular coinage.

Rarity Notes

R-7 (Extremely Rare). Fewer than 10 specimens exist. Half eagle patterns from the 1908 Pratt incuse series are comparable in rarity to the quarter eagle patterns.

Cross References

Judd J-1923, Pollock P-2113