Looking at the obverse side of the American Silver Eagle, you can quickly recognize that its design was very identical to the “Walking Liberty” design created by Adolf A. Weinman – the trusted companion and associate of Augustus Saint Gaudens – the favorite sculptor and coin designer of President Roosevelt.

It’s not really surprising why it took much of the design from the Walking Liberty.

This iconic design that has been Adopted by the American Silver Eagle has been a public favorite…one of the most loved designs in the modern history of United States Coinage. On the reverse side of the coin, one can find the Heraldic Eagle which was crafted by the skillful hands of John Mercanti.

How valuable is this loved American silver eagle? You see, the mintages of uncirculated and proof of specimens of the American Silver Eagle varies widely. With that in mind, the value or the price of this coin is just as diverse. If you’re planning to buy an American Silver Eagle coin, it is highly recommended that you read and check a standard reference book.

In general, the American Silver Eagle has been minted in millions. On the other hand, the proofs that were issued are along the hundred thousands. In light of that, most dates of the American Silver Eagle are not that expensive…somewhere around $23 each. However, there are American Silver Eagles that have a proof as early as 1990’s that sell over $100. In addition to that, there are special issues of American Silver Eagle coins (1995W) which are valued at a couple of thousand dollars.

The price and value of the American Silver Eagle coins nowadays may be varied…BUT one thing is for sure – this is one of the most loved and adored coins in the modern US coinage history.

As a solution, he contacted the man who created his 1905 Inauguration Medal that he truly adored – Augustus Saint-Gaudens. He asked for his aid to create a new design for United States coins. The aged sculptor agreed for a price of $5000 to craft the coins similar to the Greek design that Roosevelt truly admired.

Sadly, the old and skillful sculptor passed away because of cancer before he could even complete his project. However, he was able to finish his majestic Double Eagle coin, which came to be known as the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle. Up until today, many consider this to be the most famous among Saint-Gaudens’ works of art…and it’s not really surprising why.

Looking at the obverse side of the coin, you can find Lady Liberty’s image striding towards the viewer into a dawn of a new day. On her right hand, you can find a torch. On the left hand, you can find an olive branch. On the same side of the coin, you can find the Capitol Building to the lower left. On the obverse’s top, you can see the word LIBERTY. Around the border, you can also find 46 stars that represent States in 1907.

The reverse side of the coin is equally majestic! It shows an American Eagle flying above the sun’s rays…and the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TWENTY DOLLARS is found arcing across the top of the coin’s reverse.

When Roosevelt laid his eyes on the Double Eagle, he knew it would a coin that would be admired for ages…and he was right!

Just how much gold came out of it? Just to give you an idea, the amount of gold that the gold diggers have amassed gave them unprecedented power as well as influence – they were able to push a legislation that allowed minting of these new gold coin denominations.

The Liberty Head Double Eagle was designed by James B. Longacre – the same man who designed the Liberty Head Gold Coin, the Indian Princess Head Gold Coin, as well as the Indian Head One-Cent.

On the obverse of the Liberty Head Double Eagle, you can find the right-facing image of Lady Liberty with her head filled with thick and tight curls that are adorned with the LIBERTY head band. The bust, additionally, is surrounded by stars and the date when it was minted or struck is found right below the bust.

On the reverse side of the Liberty Head Double Eagle, you can find the majestically-posed eagle with the United States Shield located on its chest. Along with that, it is flanked by 2 ornate banners that reads – E PLURIBUS UNUM. Right above the eagle, you can find a eclipse of stars and rays that emanate out from the eagle’s wings.

This majestic Liberty Head Double Eagle coin was struck in 5 different mints – in Philadelphia where it was produced from 1849 until 1907, at New Orleans where it was minted during 1850, at San Francisco where it was minted from 1854-1907, Carson City from 1870 until 1893, and last but not the least, at Denver from 1906 until 1907.

It was President Roosevelt who insisted with the production of this coin. Apparently, he hated the current design on his Inaugural Medal which was designed by Charles E. Barber along with George T. Morgan. Not only that, he also disliked the coins created the same Engravers and Designers during the time.

As a solution, President Roosevelt enlisted the help of the aging but skillfull sculptor – Augustus Saint-Gaudens to come up with the new design for US coins. The gentleman, however, was too busy…so busy that he only had time to sketch his ideas on a napkin paper while taking a trip from Washington through a train.

To do the actual work, Saint-Gaudens requested the help of his associate – Adolf A. Weinman, who has been well-known for his work on the Mercury Dime as well as the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. The design of the Indian Head Eagle was altered many times until it settled with one that turned out to be the most appealing – it features Lady Liberty wearing an Indian feather headdress. There are reports saying that this picture of Lady Liberty was drawn from a figure of Nike or Victory from the General Sherman monument – which is found standing in New York Central park.

It was only after more alterations to the design (due to minting problems) that the Indian Head Eagle was finally released to the public. Less than 240,000 of these coins were put into circulation during the fall of 1907. The last design of the Indian Head Eagle was used until 1908.

Later on, however, this wreath was removed…and the eagle was instead portrayed with the well-known heraldic shield located on its chest. The very first Liberty Head eagle coins were undervalued in relation to their worth in gold. That explains why the production of these coins were halted in 1804. Here are the 3 basic designs of the Liberty Head Eagle in a nutshell -

- First, we have the Old Style Head, which lasted from 1838-1839

- Second on the list is New Style Head without the motto which lasted from 1839-1866

- Last, the New Style Head with motto, which was in circulation from 1866-1907

However, when 1838 came – the Liberty Head Eagle was reintroduced. This time, however, it features a portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a coronet coupled with a realistic image of an eagle which has a heraldic shield on the reverse side of the coin. This design of the Liberty Head Eagle has been the standard until 1908.

When 1908 came, however, Pres. Roosevelt, with the help of St. Gaudens, created a new design for coins. And this time, it features Lady Liberty wearing an Indian War Bonnet, which is common among Native Americans. In conjunction with this, an eagle is found on the reverse of the coin with its wings closed.

That’s a lot of ups and downs for a single type of coin and denomination if you would ask me.Ultimately, the production of the Liberty Head Eagle came to a full-stop when the year 1933 came.

Of course, these complains about the Indian Head Half Eagle and other coins with similar design are proven untrue.

Nowadays, you can ask any coin collector and they will certainly agree that the Indian Head Half Eagle is one of the most popular collectible American gold coins around. Although it’s inexpensive compared to its bigger brother – which is none other than the $20 St. Gaudens Double Eagle.

On the obverse of the Indian Head Half Eagle, you can find the proud Native American facing left while wearing a War Bonnet . Surrounding the obverse of the coin are 13 stars along with the word LIBERTY located at the top of the coin. At the bottom part of the Indian Head Half Eagle’s obverse, you can find the year it was produced coupled with the initials of Bela Lyon Pratt. Along with that, a standing Eagle is featured at the reverse side of the coin coupled with arrows. Encircling the reverse side are the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. To the left of it, one can find the words E PLURIBUS UNUM.

Overall, the design of the Indian Head Half Eagle is complicated. With that in mind, it is difficult to be graded correctly. That’s especially true for people who are unfamiliar with the unique design of the coin. It doesn’t have the traditional high spots that are common among the coins of the era. If you’re planning to add the Indian Head Half Eagle to your coin collection, it’s important to find ones that are graded by the PCGS or NGC.

The bottom line – the Indian Head Half Eagle is one of the finest looking American coins you could ever lay your hands on.

During the year 1838, the same image of Lady Liberty was used…a year after that, it was also used on the quarter eagle. On the half cent and cent coins of the era, the same basic design was also employed.

The half eagle design which was used in the Liberty Head Half Eagle coin underwent 5 major changes since they were produced back in 1795. Along with that, the Liberty Head Half Eagle also used the Liberty Head Design. This is sometimes known as the Coronet Head due to the coronet worn by Lady Liberty – this has been considered a continuation of the influence of Neoclassicism, which was first seen in 1834.

Looking at the obverse side of the Liberty Head Half Eagle, you will find a portrait of Lady Liberty facing to the left…while having her hair bundled at the back and securing it with a beaded tie. Along with that, however, there are two strands of her hair are found cascading down the side and back of her neck.

To top this off, you can also find the word LIBERTY stretching across the coronet which rests above her forehead.

Additionally, there are 13 six-point stars that encircle within the dentilled rim…and with the date centered at the bottom of the coin. On the reverse side of the Liberty Head Half Eagle, you can find an eagle that has an outstretched wings and with a shield located over its breast. The eagle grips an olive branch on the right claw while his left claw clutches 3 arrows…although the fletching is visible only for 2 of the arrows.

However, in the United States, the US Gold was at a fixed price and fixed ratio (silver-to-gold) of 15 to 1 and that is according to the US Coinage Act Of 1792. With that in mind, it took fewer ounces of silver to buy an ounce of gold in the United States than it would to buy an ounce of gold in Europe. With that in mind, it didn’t take long before the US Gold Coins became a commodity…having more value than their European counterparts. However, this led to thousands of coins being exported and melted. As a response, the 1834 Mint Act addressed this dilemma by reducing the weight and gold content of gold coins…which led to the production of the Classic Head Half Eagle.

The Classic Head Half Eagle is characterized by a left-facing bust of Lady Liberty on the obverse side of the coin. Along with that, Liberty is found wearing a headband which contained the word LIBERTY that runs full length from the front all the way to back. This is coupled by 13 six-point stars that encircle the head and the date is centered at the bottom.

Looking at the reverse side of the coin, one can find the an eagle with its wings outstretched…a design which was used on other coins like the Capped Bust and Capped Head Half Eagles. Still on the reverse side of the Classic Head Half Eagle, the words – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, are broken into 3 parts in the coin.

The gold dollar had its origins during the Carolina gold rush of the 1830s. The sudden availability of gold spurred the US government to makes some changes to the coins it minted. Gold coins were being minted in rather large quantities and two new Mints opened in the Carolinas just for the production of gold coins. Another gold rush in California in 1849 sparked the demand for even more gold coins. The Indian Head Gold dollars were composed of 90% gold and 10% silver and copper.

The Indian Head Gold Dollar is hard to come by and highly prized by collectors.

The 1935 Peace Dollar was the last dollar coin struck by the US mint prior to the Eisenhower Dollar. The 1965 Coinage Act eliminated silver from circulating US coins and also said that no silver dollar coins could be minted for five years.

The Eisenhower Dollars was designed by Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. Under the image of Eisenhower is LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. The reverse features a bald eagle landing on the moon carrying an olive branch. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above the eagle and ONE DOLLAR below.

Special silver clad coins were struck for collectors from 1971 to 1976 with an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% copper and an inner layer composed of 40% silver and 60% copper.

Special Bicentennial issues of the Eisenhower Dollar were minted from 1975 to 1976 with the reverse featuring the Liberty Bell and the moon on the reverse.