Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature US Coin Sale 1259 7-8 Sep 2017
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Indian Eagles
1908-D $10 No Motto MS66 NGC. By congressional mandate, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to Augustus Saint-Gaudens' designs for the eagle and double eagle part way through the year in 1908, the first year the designs were produced at the Denver Mint. A moderate mintage of 210,000 Indian eagles of the No Motto type was accomplished at the Colorado facility before the change was implemented. Unfortunately, few high-quality examples were saved by contemporary collectors, as the novelty value of the design had worn off the year before, when a large mintage was coined at the Philadelphia Mint.
In addition, the Denver Mint technicians experienced some difficulty adapting their presses to the segmented edge collars used to impart the star edge devices during striking. Although they were able to figure things out eventually, the 1908-D No Motto Indian eagle is one of the most poorly produced issues of the series. Most examples seen have flat strikes and lackluster surfaces that tend to be heavily abraded. In his catalog of the Thaine B. Price Collection, David Akers noted:
"Despite its 210,000 mintage figure, which is only moderately low by Indian Head Eagle standards, the 1908-D No Motto is very difficult to locate in any Uncirculated grade, and nearly all known mint state specimens fall well short of the Choice category. In Choice Uncirculated condition, the 1908-D No Motto is rare and above that level it is very rare. True Gems ... can be counted on the fingers of one hand and rank among the rarest and most desirable issues in the series."
The present coin is one of those rare and desirable exceptions to the rule. This spectacular Premium Gem exhibits a much better-than-average strike, especially on the reverse, where it shows fine definition in the feathers on the eagle's shoulder. The pleasing orange-gold surfaces are impeccably preserved and both sides radiate vibrant mint luster. Overall eye appeal is terrific. We expect intense competition from series specialists when this lot is called. Census: 5 in 66, 3 finer (7/17).
HID02901242017
1908-D $10 No Motto MS66 NGC. By congressional mandate, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to Augustus Saint-Gaudens' designs for the eagle and double eagle part way through the year in 1908, the first year the designs were produced at the Denver Mint. A moderate mintage of 210,000 Indian eagles of the No Motto type was accomplished at the Colorado facility before the change was implemented. Unfortunately, few high-quality examples were saved by contemporary collectors, as the novelty value of the design had worn off the year before, when a large mintage was coined at the Philadelphia Mint.
In addition, the Denver Mint technicians experienced some difficulty adapting their presses to the segmented edge collars used to impart the star edge devices during striking. Although they were able to figure things out eventually, the 1908-D No Motto Indian eagle is one of the most poorly produced issues of the series. Most examples seen have flat strikes and lackluster surfaces that tend to be heavily abraded. In his catalog of the Thaine B. Price Collection, David Akers noted:
"Despite its 210,000 mintage figure, which is only moderately low by Indian Head Eagle standards, the 1908-D No Motto is very difficult to locate in any Uncirculated grade, and nearly all known mint state specimens fall well short of the Choice category. In Choice Uncirculated condition, the 1908-D No Motto is rare and above that level it is very rare. True Gems ... can be counted on the fingers of one hand and rank among the rarest and most desirable issues in the series."
The present coin is one of those rare and desirable exceptions to the rule. This spectacular Premium Gem exhibits a much better-than-average strike, especially on the reverse, where it shows fine definition in the feathers on the eagle's shoulder. The pleasing orange-gold surfaces are impeccably preserved and both sides radiate vibrant mint luster. Overall eye appeal is terrific. We expect intense competition from series specialists when this lot is called. Census: 5 in 66, 3 finer (7/17).
HID02901242017