1855 Indian Princess Head gold dollars are popular coins among hobbyists who appreciate 19th-century gold coinage, particularly those who like coins with a bit of history behind them. The 1855 gold dollar is notable as the second year of the Indian Princess Head series, which spanned from 1854 through 1889, during which two design types were created. The 1855 gold dollar has a relatively smaller head than most of the latter pieces and is thus classified by numismatists as a “small head” type.
The 1855 Indian Princess Head dollars were made at four U.S. Mint locations, including Philadelphia (no mintmark), Charlotte (C), Dahlonega (D), and New Orleans (O). Here’s a rundown of mintages and values for these four different issues:
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1855, 758,269 minted; $500
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1855-C, 9,803; $4,000
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1855-D, 1,811; $15,000
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1855-O, 55,000; $1,000
*Values are for coins in a grade of Extremely-Fine 40.
1855 Indian Princess Head gold dollars were designed by Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. Longacre is famous for designing several popular coins, including the Indian Head cent and 2-Cent coin. The Indian Princess Head gold dollar, while a precious metal coin, contains a relatively small amount of gold. In fact, the coin weighs just 1.672 grams and contains only 0.04837 ounces of gold.
