The 1926 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin is considered common as compared to other dates in the series. However, it should be noted that all Indian Head quarters are scarce as compared to all 20th-century gold coinage. The Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin features a left-facing Indian wearing a headdress on the obverse and a standing eagle on the reverse. Perhaps the most striking visual feature isn’t necessarily the incredible artistry of the design per se but, rather, the fact that the entire design is sunken into the coin.
Not many 1926 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coins were saved in uncirculated grades, which is why they are so hard to come by in the Mint State grades. There are two reasons these coins were not preserved in better grades. First, the public was worried that bacteria would collect in the incused design elements (which was false). Second, few numismatists were thrilled with the design. Fast-forward to today, when collectors revere the Indian Head design and happily pay good premiums for these coins in any grade.
When collectors think about purchasing a coin such as the 1926 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin, the first thing they will concern themselves with is the condition in which the coin is in. Condition not only affects value, but it also affect the general appeal of a collection, so collectors would like to buy those coins that haven’t been too heavily damaged.
Normally, judging the condition of a coin is something best left to the professionals, but not everyone has the time and money to send their coins away for grading. Understanding this, we have provided below a listing of the different characteristics of graded Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coins as to give you a better idea of what graded pieces might look like.
Uncirculated: An Uncirculated Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin is one that never was released into the open exchange market. Instead of changing hands over and over for decades like most did, these pieces were kept under lock and key and avoided most any damage. Even the mint’s original luster is still present on the coin’s faces.
Extremely Fine: A coin receiving this grade is one that was only put into circulation for a short period of time. During that time, the coin in question will have suffered some damage, but not enough to really take away from its appeal. Apart from some light scratching that is only visible under close inspection, these coins appear to be well-preserved.
Fine: If an Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin is graded to be Fine, the coin in question is one that has spent a good bit of time being circulated. These coins will show a good bit of damage, but not so much that you cannot make out major identifying features such as the images and inscriptions.
Good: This is the grade given to coins that are in poor condition. These pieces, during their lives, were circulated for decades upon decades and have incurred a lot of damage during that time. For collectors, these are not the most desirable pieces, as seen by their relatively inexpensive asking prices.
For coins like the Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin, the price you are going to pay is dependent on the coin’s condition. 1926 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coins that are in excellent condition are the ones going for the highest prices. The chart below will give you a good idea of what the typical asking prices are for graded 1926 Indian Head $2.50 Gold Coin.
Indian Head $2.5 Gold Coin
DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
---|---|---|---|---|
1926 Indian Head $2.5 Gold Coin | N/A | N/A | $310 | $325 | Source: Red Book |