The 1909-D Indian Head Half Eagle is, by a large margin, the most common Indian Head Half Eagle. This makes sense given the fact that it has a mintage figure that is more than double the next highest for this design (the 1911-S). Examples of this date are still being found in overseas sources and it is likely that thousands more are waiting to enter the market. However, nearly all the examples that are being repatriated are either circulated or in the lower Uncirculated grades and Gem 1909-D Half Eagles are actually quite scarce.

The 1909-D Indian Head Half Eagle is not as well produced as some of the Philadelphia issues of this era but it is still one of the sharper Denver Half Eagles of this type. The strike is sometimes a bit weak at the centers of the obverse and reverse but the collector should be able to locate a sharp, well defined piece with relatively little effort.

1909-D Half Eagle: Rarity in High Grades Due to Surface Abrasions

On nearly every known example of this date, the surfaces show heavy abrasions. Many have deep scratches or bagmarks and finding a 1909-D Half Eagle that is clean and free of serious marks is extremely difficult. In fact, this is the reason why this otherwise common date is considered to be quite rare in MS65 and higher grades.