258
|
$2.50 Gold
1721
1912
.
NGC graded MS-64
. Nice rich golden toning. Uncom-
monly smooth with fully metallic, golden-rose features underly-
ing the Choice exterior. Not to go overboard, there is a wealth of
detail seen throughout this well struck specimen, on the
Indian’s facial features, his war bonnet and headband, and
throughout Pratt’s simple yet distinctive standing eagle which
he modeled, apparently after Saint-Gaudens similarly posed
bald eagle on the Indian $10 gold introduced in 1907.
Pop
676; 83 finer, 19 in 64+, 62 in 65, 2 in 66
. (
PCGS #
7944
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,900 - 2,000
G
EM
P
ROOF
1913 $2.50 I
NDIAN
Enlargement
1722
1913
.
PCGS graded Proof 66
. Very choice example.
Only 165 minted. Matte finish Proofs of 1913 had the color
slightly darker than in 1912 on average, nearer to 1908's
deeper sandblast look. When first struck, all Proof Indian
Quarter Eagles (and other post-1907 designs) have a per-
fect bright satin finish. The next step was to select the right
material for the sandblast process to give the coins their
matte appearance. Each coin, like each snowflake, has indi-
vidual characteristics. But annual averages tend to vary
from light sandblast to deeper, darker hues with fine dia-
mond-like sparkle in the field when a strong light strikes the
surface. A gorgeous fresh and bright example, as crisp and
lustrous as when first issued. Probably a good many are not
as carefully struck as this piece, either, with every design
feature needle-sharp including the unusual “outlined” look
of the recessed-relief legends and numerals. A magnificent
coin. An opportunity for the specialist.
Pop 7; 2 finer, 1 in
66+, 1 in 67
. (
PCGS # 7962
)
Note: The obverse on these portrays Brule Lakota Chief
Hollow Horn Bear, who had taken part in Theodore Roos-
evelt's inaugural parade, March 4, 1905. The Chief died
March 15, 1913, age 54, at Providence Hospital, according
to the notice in the April 1913 Numismatist, which misiden-
tified him as the model for the 1899 $5 Silver Certificates.
His true identity as Boston sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt's model
for the 1908 Quarter Eagles and half eagles first came to
light in an exhibit in the 1988 ANA Convention; we have not
yet learned who was the exhibitor. The raised flat fields of
the new design meant that Proofs would have to be in one
of the French matte finishes. Proofs (1908-15) were not as
popular as the old-fashioned brilliant Proofs of former
designs, especially because they were darker and duller
than business strikes; many were mistakenly spent, others
melted in 1916 as unsold. Today they are the creme de la
creme of American gold rarities!
Estimated Value .................................... $30,000 - 33,000
1723
1913
.
NGC graded MS-64
. A nice frosty untoned coin. Very
choice with attractive pink-gold metallic luster beaming across
each side. An eye-appealing, radiant MS64. The choice devices
were struck, as expected for the grade, with such force and
energy by the dies that all design elements show entirely.
(
PCGS # 7945
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,150 - 1,200
1724
1913
.
NGC graded MS-64
. Frosty and untoned. A very
choice, well struck example. (
PCGS # 7945
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,150 - 1,200
1725
1913
.
NGC graded MS-62+
. Very frosty. (
PCGS # 7945
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $400 - 425
1726
A pair of $2.50 Indians
. Includes
1913 and 1925-D
.
Coins
will grade VF and EF.
Estimated Value ................................................... $420 - 460
Donald J Mack Collection
.
G
EM
P
ROOF
1914 $2.50 I
NDIAN
Enlargement
1727
1914
.
NGC graded Proof 67
. Well struck and nice for the
grade. Only 117 minted.
Pop 13; 4 finer in 68
. (
PCGS #
7963
)
Estimated Value .................................... $35,000 - 38,000
