Pre-1933 Coins
Pre 1933 Gold & Silver Coins
The United States minted its first gold coin in 1795, and from that day, a variety of gold denominations and coin sets have been produced. However, that all came to a halt when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102 in 1933. This unprecedented action forbade gold hoarding old US gold coins. Whether it was coins, bullions, or certificates, they had to be returned to the US Treasury.
Why?
Roosevelt believed that gold hoarding was to blame for the country’s stifled economic growth, and he thought it played a part in worsening the Great Depression. Because of this order, millions of coins minted by the US were returned, melted, and cast into bars. As a result, a limited number of pre-1933 gold coins survived. Investors and collectors both desire to own a piece of this history.
Saint-Gaudens (1907-1933)
The Saint-Gaudens has earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful antique gold coins, and it remains one of the most striking designs in US history. From 1907 to 1933, gold coins were struck by the US Mint with the Saint-Gaudens dies. The famed design came from Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a sculptor and friend of Theodore Roosevelt.
The pre-1933 gold coins feature Miss Liberty standing and lighting the way to freedom with a torch. In the background, the sun rises over the Capitol building. On the back, you’ll find a flying eagle and the $20 denomination. The initial design left out “In God We Trust,” but public outrage led to the motto’s addition to all coins produced after 1908.
Indian Head (1908-1929)
From the years 1908 to 1929, the US Mint produced a series of Indian Head gold coins. Unlike many other designs, the Indian Head was struck on multiple denominations. The $10 gold coin is sometimes referred to as an Indian head gold eagle. However, it depicts a Lady Liberty profile in a Native American headdress.
The quarter eagle and half eagle have a face value of $2.50 and $5 respectively. They are the true “Indian Head” coins because they portray a left-facing Native American man wearing a headdress. The quarter and half eagles were the last coins to be struck and circulated for their denominations.
More significantly, the Indian Head design is the only one of its kind in US history. The creators worked hard to develop a unique depressed design that would allow for high-relief features without compromising the coin’s ability to be stacked without scratches.
Since gold disappeared from circulation during World War I, the quarter eagle wasn’t struck from 1916 to 1924. The half eagle wasn’t struck from 1917 to 1928. Minting after those years was short lived, so the low population of these antique gold coins makes them highly desirable.
Liberty Head (1850-1907)
The pre-1933 Liberty gold coin comes in multiple denominations as well. You can find a quarter eagle, half eagle, eagle, and double eagle. However, some of the denominations have slightly different versions, so they are great for collections and investments.
Although many of the coins have differences, the overall design remains the same across the $2.50, $5, $10, and $20 coins. Each coin has a left-facing Liberty in Greco-Roman style. The profile has 13 stars surrounding it to represent the original colonies. The reverse of the coin has an eagle and shield.
Pre 1933 Gold & Silver Coins for Sale
If you are interested in collecting or investing in pre-1933 gold and silver coins, IPM can help. We have a variety of pre-1933 gold and silver coins for sale, including Liberty heads. Reach out to our experts today to ask about the coins we currently have in our extensive inventory.
To explore more precious metals and coin collections, discover our collections of Palladium Bullion, American Gold Buffalo Coins & US Mint Coins.
SILVER WE SELL. PERIOD.
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