The 1914 Indian Head Half Eagle is the second scarcest Philadelphia Half Eagle of this type, trailing only the 1929. It has never really commanded much of a premium over such very common dates as the 1908, 1909 and 1909-D and many experts consider it to be an undervalued sleeper issue in higher grades. The strike seen on this issue is very sharp with both the obverse and the reverse typically displaying complete definition including sharp feather detail in the bonnet and on the eagle’s wings and legs.

The surfaces are often significantly abraded but, for some reason, many 1914 Indian Head Half Eagles are seen with less detracting marks than on the earlier Philadelphia issues of this design. There are a few pieces known that are very clean and can be called Gems by anyone’s standards.

1914 Half Eagle: Luster, Coloration, and Collector Appeal

The luster is not as good as that seen on the earlier Philadelphia issues but it still tends to be slightly better than average. It is generally frosty in texture and it lacks the semi granular appearance seen on the 1912 and 1913 Half Eagles.

The coloration on the 1914 rivals any date in the series. A number of hues have been observed, ranging from bright orange-gold to medium green to rich coppery-rose. The collector who appreciates nice coloration should be able to locate a 1914 Half Eagle which offers great appeal.