1933 Indian Head Eagle

About This Coin

The 1933 Indian Head Eagle is a United States Gold Eagle from the Indian Head Eagles 1907-1933 series. The obverse features a Native American wearing a feathered war bonnet, facing left, while the reverse displays a standing eagle with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST. Designed by Augustus Saint Gaudens. Struck in 90% gold, 10% copper, weighing 16.7 grams, 26.8 mm in diameter, with a raised stars edge. Produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The Indian Head Eagle was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens as part of President Theodore Roosevelt's grand redesign of American coinage. The design was one of the last completed before Saint-Gaudens' death in 1907. The absence of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the 1907-1908 coins (per Roosevelt's insistence) caused a Congressional controversy, and the motto was restored in mid-1908. The 1907 Wire Rim and Rolled Rim varieties are extremely rare. The 1933 is a key date. "No Motto" (1907-1908) vs. "With Motto" (1908-1933) forms a major collecting distinction.