Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature US Coin Sale 1254 26-28 Apr 2017
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Indian Eagles
1907 $10 Wire Rim MS65 PCGS. Judd-1774. The Wire Rim tens and High Relief twenties were each a curious blend of the tried and tested and the experimental. The designs for each borrowed heavily from previous commissions completed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. However, the bright, satiny finish on the Wire Rim tens was clearly experimental for the Mint. The Mint did have decades of experience striking medals in high relief. They could also strike them in different finishes and colors. But medal production was a very slow process and limited to tiny numbers when compared to coinage intended for circulation. Problems arose, however, when designers made assumptions about what could be accomplished for circulating coinage, and when Mint officials attempted to second-guess how a design would be received by the public. Mint Director George Roberts solicited advice from San Francisco Mint Superintendent Frank Leach about the proposed standing-eagle reverse design. Leach was apparently unaware that the design had been previously used on Theodore Roosevelt's privately produced 1905 inaugural medal with the reverse designed by Adolph Weinman. His blunt assessment was it was not a faithful representation of the national bird and its legs much too long. "This design inclines one to the impression of a crane in masquerade wearing pantaloons and a cutaway coat."
Apparently his artistic critique went no further than Robert's desk, and the standing-eagle design proceeded and was adopted for the reverse of the ten dollar. The obverse was an adaptation of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Nike, seen on the Sherman Group at the southern entrance to Central Park. This obverse / reverse pairing survived the experimental Wire Rim strikings, the Rolled Rim patterns, and was slightly lowered for the circulation strike tens that finally entered production. Only 500 specimens of the Wire Rim design were produced and the issue is prized by pattern collectors and series specialists alike.
The present coin is a delightful Gem, with well-detailed design elements and well-preserved orange-gold surfaces that show few signs of contact. Vibrant satiny mint luster radiates from both sides and eye appeal is outstanding. Population: 68 in 65 (6 in 65+), 23 finer (3/17).
HID02901242017
1907 $10 Wire Rim MS65 PCGS. Judd-1774. The Wire Rim tens and High Relief twenties were each a curious blend of the tried and tested and the experimental. The designs for each borrowed heavily from previous commissions completed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. However, the bright, satiny finish on the Wire Rim tens was clearly experimental for the Mint. The Mint did have decades of experience striking medals in high relief. They could also strike them in different finishes and colors. But medal production was a very slow process and limited to tiny numbers when compared to coinage intended for circulation. Problems arose, however, when designers made assumptions about what could be accomplished for circulating coinage, and when Mint officials attempted to second-guess how a design would be received by the public. Mint Director George Roberts solicited advice from San Francisco Mint Superintendent Frank Leach about the proposed standing-eagle reverse design. Leach was apparently unaware that the design had been previously used on Theodore Roosevelt's privately produced 1905 inaugural medal with the reverse designed by Adolph Weinman. His blunt assessment was it was not a faithful representation of the national bird and its legs much too long. "This design inclines one to the impression of a crane in masquerade wearing pantaloons and a cutaway coat."
Apparently his artistic critique went no further than Robert's desk, and the standing-eagle design proceeded and was adopted for the reverse of the ten dollar. The obverse was an adaptation of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Nike, seen on the Sherman Group at the southern entrance to Central Park. This obverse / reverse pairing survived the experimental Wire Rim strikings, the Rolled Rim patterns, and was slightly lowered for the circulation strike tens that finally entered production. Only 500 specimens of the Wire Rim design were produced and the issue is prized by pattern collectors and series specialists alike.
The present coin is a delightful Gem, with well-detailed design elements and well-preserved orange-gold surfaces that show few signs of contact. Vibrant satiny mint luster radiates from both sides and eye appeal is outstanding. Population: 68 in 65 (6 in 65+), 23 finer (3/17).
HID02901242017