1911 $5 (1911 Half Eagle) NGC Proof. This lovely, fully struck, proof 1911 Half Eagle shows subdued mint luster within its devices. Were it not for the slight damage at star 7 and a scratch hidden in the feathers, the coin would have received a high proof grade because the main focal points on the obverse are pristine. There are two small spots on the reverse one just to the right of the eagles neck and one below the M in UNUM. Bela Lyon Pratt, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens designed this coin and the similar half eagle. They were different from what had preceded in that the designs were incused. The background of the prior issues had become the foreground. The design was sunk into the field and shown in relief. The design was not popular with the public. As soon as they were issued, objections were made. It was said that the incused features would retain dirt and the coins would be unsanitary. They were also too easily counterfeited and couldnt be stacked, and the design was not natural.

Pratt chose an authentic looking Native American head in profile looking left wearing a realistic headdress. Above is the word LIBERTY and below is the date. Six stars are on the left and seven are on the right. The reverse, in homage to Saint-Gaudens, shows the standing eagle facing left. Below it are arrows and an olive branch. E PLURIBUS UNUM is in the left field and IN GOD WE TRUST is in the right. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, separated by dots, arcs above the eagle, and the denomination 2 DOLLARS is below.

With an original mintage of 139, all half eagle proof coins of this date are rare and in demand by both collectors and specialists.