1909-O $5 Indian Head Half Eagle, NGC AU53 - Key Date-!

It is with true pleasure that we at AUCM present for consideration an eagerly sought key date: 1909-O $5 Indian Head, graded NGC AU53. This issue is one of only five gold issues produced by the New Orleans mint in the 20th century before closing its doors forever. In fact, the New Orleans mint ended production in April of that year. With the lowest mintage in the $5 Indian head half eagle series, this issue has strong demand at every grade level.

The Annual Report of the Director of the Mint for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1910, discusses the idle New Orleans Mint:

The amount of gold which is available for coinage at New Orleans is small, and the total coinage of the country can be done materially cheaper at three mints and with three organizations than at four mints and with four complete complements of officers and employees. The amount of coinage which could be given to the New Orleans Mint under these conditions did not warrant the continuance of operations there, and they were suspended April 1, 1909, and a large reduction of the force made at that time. At various dates in 1910 further reductions were made, and there appearing to be no likelihood that the mint could advantageously resume operations in the near future, the estimates for 1911 have been made for the conduct of the institution as an assay office only.

The New Orleans mint never produced coins again. It has been a museum for many years now.