Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature US Coin Sale 1258 2-6 Aug 2017
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Proof Indian Half Eagles
1913 $5 PR66+ PCGS. CAC. Only 99 proof Indian half eagles were struck in 1913, the third lowest production total of the series. The coins display the same fine sandblast finish as the 1912 proofs and collector dissatisfaction with the matte finish is well-documented. It is likely that many of these proofs went unsold and were melted after the end of the year. David Akers believed that the 1913 proof Indian five was tied with the 1914 issue as the second-rarest date of the series.
Most of the proofs that were distributed in 1913 were sold as part of complete gold proof sets. The sets began appearing at auction almost immediately, as evidenced by the set in lot 23 of the Charles H. Conover Collection (B. Max Mehl, 5/1914):
"1913 $20, $10, $5, $2.50. Dull sand blasted finish. Complete set. Four pieces. Very rare."
Mehl's description of the set as "Dull" perhaps expressed the feelings of contemporary collectors about the matte proof issues in general. The lot realized only $40 for the four coin with a face value of $37.50. The gold proof sets were soon broken up and the individual coins marketed to date collectors. Today, numismatists appreciate the artistic quality of these sand blast proofs, and recognize their absolute rarity. The record price realized for a 1913 proof Indian half eagle is $86,250, realized by the PR67 PCGS coin in lot 3134 of the FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2007).
The coin offered here is a Plus-graded Premium Gem, with razor-sharp definition on all design elements and virtually pristine mustard-gold surfaces with the "dull" sand blast proof luster characteristics that present-day numismatists have come to appreciate so much. Overall eye appeal is terrific. Population: 10 in 66 (2 in 66+), 3 finer. CAC: 9 in 66, 0 finer (6/17).
HID02901242017
1913 $5 PR66+ PCGS. CAC. Only 99 proof Indian half eagles were struck in 1913, the third lowest production total of the series. The coins display the same fine sandblast finish as the 1912 proofs and collector dissatisfaction with the matte finish is well-documented. It is likely that many of these proofs went unsold and were melted after the end of the year. David Akers believed that the 1913 proof Indian five was tied with the 1914 issue as the second-rarest date of the series.
Most of the proofs that were distributed in 1913 were sold as part of complete gold proof sets. The sets began appearing at auction almost immediately, as evidenced by the set in lot 23 of the Charles H. Conover Collection (B. Max Mehl, 5/1914):
"1913 $20, $10, $5, $2.50. Dull sand blasted finish. Complete set. Four pieces. Very rare."
Mehl's description of the set as "Dull" perhaps expressed the feelings of contemporary collectors about the matte proof issues in general. The lot realized only $40 for the four coin with a face value of $37.50. The gold proof sets were soon broken up and the individual coins marketed to date collectors. Today, numismatists appreciate the artistic quality of these sand blast proofs, and recognize their absolute rarity. The record price realized for a 1913 proof Indian half eagle is $86,250, realized by the PR67 PCGS coin in lot 3134 of the FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2007).
The coin offered here is a Plus-graded Premium Gem, with razor-sharp definition on all design elements and virtually pristine mustard-gold surfaces with the "dull" sand blast proof luster characteristics that present-day numismatists have come to appreciate so much. Overall eye appeal is terrific. Population: 10 in 66 (2 in 66+), 3 finer. CAC: 9 in 66, 0 finer (6/17).
HID02901242017