1
257
bid online at
(800) 978-COIN (2646)
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Session Four - Tuesday, June 3, 2014 6:00 PM
$2 . 50 Ind i an
Enlargement
1714
1908
.
PCGS graded MS-64+
. Rich golden toning. An attrac-
tive, lustrous coin which is expected from the grade, this satin
coin has only a few inconsequential field lines. A word about
strike: as first year of issue, the 1908 hub had softer detail in
the eagle's wings and body plumage than on the 1909-29 Quar-
ter Eagles, yet the present coin was struck with controlled preci-
sion throughout and stands front and center among its 1908-
dated peers. (
PCGS # 7939
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$2,200 - 2,300
1715
1908
.
NGC graded MS-64
. Nice light gold toning. Pleasant,
almost cheery gold satin frost display lots of fresh gold color.
Meticulous strike on every device, including the Indian’s braid,
all feathers in the war bonnet, and all the fine detail present in
Pratt’s eagle.
As the first Indian Quarter Eagle date in U.S. coinage history,
the 1908 enjoys persistent demand among both type collectors
and 20th century gold specialists. Although this issue is the
most readily available Indian $2.50 in choice MS64 after only
the 1925-D, such coins are elusive in an absolute sense, and
not as frequently offered in today's market as they once were.
(
PCGS # 7939
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,100 - 1,200
1716
1909
.
NGC graded MS-64
. Mostly untoned. A radiant exam-
ple, fully original with reddish golden color that rises and falls in
an almost rhythmic display on the satin surface. The dies left
their rigid impression behind without the least weakness or
imprecision on the devices. Note that even the zigzag pattern of
dots on the Indian’s headband are clearly present. The feather
ends, too, impress us with their fine detail (some dates are
notorious for being weakly struck on the tips). (
PCGS # 7940
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,500 - 1,600
1717
1909
.
PCGS graded MS-63
. Frosty and untoned. (
PCGS #
7940
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,000 - 1,050
1718
1910
.
NGC graded MS-64
. An untoned coin. Aesthetically
tempting, as fine a looking MS64 with full luster as you are apt
to see, and all the while saturated with bright golden bloom,
nothing in the way of toning. All devices were struck with such
force and determination by the dies that elements show with
keen-edged detail. (
PCGS # 7941
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,200 - 1,300
1719
1911
.
PCGS graded MS-64
. Lovely light gold toning. The sur-
faces are sleek and glowing with a healthy show of golden color
some of which shows warm toning. Everything above-board and
attractive. The equally choice devices were struck with energy
and full pressure by the dies imparting all key design features
boldly.
Almost every new issue meets with howls of protest from self-
appointed art connoisseurs; and Bela Lyon Pratt's distinctive
Indian Head Half Eagles of 1908 to 1929 were no exception.
According to Breen, who did extensive research on the series
for his encyclopedia, "Pratt's designs at once came under
attack, probably because of their unfamiliar conception [their
recessed relief design]. One of their severest critics was the
Philadelphia coin dealer Samuel Hudson Chapman, who falsely
alleged that the designs were anti-naturalistic, unhygienic [!],
incapable of stacking, and too easily counterfeited. Today, one
might have to ask a thousand dealers or collectors their opinion
of the coin before receiving back a negative view on the order
of that provided by Chapman. Times change; aesthetic stan-
dards realign. (
PCGS # 7942
)
Estimated Value .................................................$950 - 1,000
Enlargement
1720
1911-D
.
NGC graded AU-55
. The mint mark is somewhat
soft. Popular key date. Only 55,680 minted. As the most elusive
in the 15-coin Indian $2.50 gold series by a country mile, this
pleasing '11-D example comes with still-fresh underlying luster
that breathes a note of distinction into the sharp highlights.
Nicely struck with crisp details aplenty barring the often-seen
weak “D” mintmark for Denver Mint. (
PCGS # 7943
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$4,000 - 4,200
