1875 Large Head Indian Princess Gold Dollar

1875 Indian Princess Large Head gold dollars are coins that are usually bought by hobbyists who enjoy collecting pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. 1875 gold dollar coins are among the scarcest 1870s gold dollars in existence, as only a few hundred were minted and most have since been melted or otherwise damaged, leaving few problem-free specimens behind for coin collectors today. Gold coins such as the one-dollar denomination circulated in the western United States during the 1840s, 1850s, and early 1860s, though production continued through the 1880s to fulfill demands of commerce. While gold dollar coins saw widespread circulation, they often were given as holiday gifts, which explains why some of these early gold coins survive today in better grades.

1875 gold dollar coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint as both business-strike and proof specimens. Here is a look at the mintages and values of these gold coins:

• 1875, 400 minted; $5,000

• 1875 proof, 20; $18,500

*Values are for coins grading Extremely Fine-40, unless otherwise noted.

1875 gold dollars measure 15 millimeters in diameter, weigh only 1.672 grams, and contain 0.04837 ounces of gold. While these small gold coins are among the least expensive pieces among all pre-1933 U.S. gold coinage, they are also more costly in terms of their premiums over spot than larger, more common gold coins.

James B. Longacre designed 1875 Indian Princess gold dollar coins. Longacre was the United States Mint Chief Engraver during the years 1844 through 1869, and he designed many important U.S. coins during his tenure at the Mint. These include the Flying Eagle cent (produced from 1856-1858), Indian Head cent (1859-1909), two-cent piece (1864-1873), various silver and nickel three-cent coins (1851-1889), and the Shield nickel (1866-1883).