The 1909-O $5 American Gold Indian Head is highly regarded as one of the most historic issues ever to be released by the famous New Orleans Mint. As the only year of issue from the New Orleans Mint, marketability is very high for this coin, generating demand from Southern Branch Mint Connoisseur’s, New Orleans collectors, $5 American Gold Indian Head collectors, as-well-as collectors interested in key issue rare-coins.

   Southern Branch Mint collectors are drawn to low mintage numbers, and even more importantly, low survival rates. As most Southern Branch Mints the 1909-O $5 Indian Head comes from a miniscule mintage of only 34,200 coins. In MS-60 or better, PCGS estimates a survival rate of 186 coins (less than 1%).

   Anyone with a New Orleans collection, whether assembling a type set or rarities from the New Orleans Mint, will recognize the 1909-O $5 Indian Head as the only $5 Indian Head to ever be minted in New Orleans.

   The $2.5 & $5 American Gold Indian Head coins are some of the most collected coins of an entire series ever to be released by the U.S. Mint. Each of the series has a “pinnacle” coin. For the $2.5 series, that coin is the 1911-D… the 1909-O $5 is even more of a rarity.

   Some collectors have shifted their focus from collecting entire series or sets to targeting “Key Issue” coins. These are typically the hardest issues to acquire. The credentials of this coin have established it as one of the true classic rarities to come out of any branch of the U.S. Mint. The coin repeatedly outpaces itself in auction results this coin continues to weather financial turmoil and remains a highlight for those rare coin portfolios lucky enough to have the coin present. Recently the finest known example of this piece, MS-66, auctioned for an impressive $690,000.