LOT #3619 |
Current Bid: $9,250
1907 $10 Wire Rim, Irregular Edge Stars, Judd-1901, Pollack-1995, High R.7, MS64 PCGS....
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Description
1907 Wire Rim Indian Eagle, MS64
Rare Irregular Edge Stars Variety
Possible Pattern Issue, Judd-1901
Four Examples Certified
1907 $10 Wire Rim, Irregular Edge Stars, Judd-1901,
Pollack-1995, High R.7, MS64 PCGS. The 1907 Wire Rim Indian
eagle is a sought-after key to the popular series because of its
limited net mintage of just 472 pieces and its status as the first,
and closest, representation of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' beautiful,
intensely American design. Traditionally, the 1907 Wire Rim Indian
eagle was considered a pattern, and the issue is still listed in
the leading pattern reference as Judd-1901, but recent research in
the National Archives by Roger W. Burdette has established that the
Wire Rim tens should more properly be considered circulation-strike
coins, not experimental issues. However, some true patterns do
exist and can be identified by their edge design.The dies for the Wire Rim eagle were manufactured using plaster models prepared by prominent sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and delivered to the Mint in June 1907. The design called for the edge to feature 46 raised stars, one for each state in the Union at the time. The raised stars on the edge presented an unfamiliar challenge to the Mint's equipment designers, as they were only accustomed to making reeded edge and plain edge collars. Acting Philadelphia Mint Superintendent Albert Norris sent a letter to acting Mint Director Robert Preston on August 14, 1907, explaining the situation:
"The machine shop was working on a sectional collar for putting stars on the edge of the eagle, so I put them on overtime and we hope to have it ready for trial on Friday. This relief work on the edge of the coin is something entirely new to us. Some years ago, I think in Mr. Bosbyshell's time, a contrivance for this work was made, but only a few examples were made on it. We had expected to use this but on trial found it would not work satisfactorily for the regular coinage, so a new attachment for the coining press had to be devised. If the work on the edge of the coins was to be impressed, instead of being in relief, we would have had no trouble ..."
The first experimental coins were actually struck with a plain edge, because the new collar was not ready. After some reworking of the original models by Saint-Gaudens' assistant, Henry Hering, the first obverse and reverse dies for the Indian eagle were ready by July 19 and two experimental examples were struck with a plain edge shortly after. These patterns are known today as Judd-1902. One example was sent to President Roosevelt, via Treasury Secretary George B. Cortelyou, and the other was sent to Augustus Saint-Gaudens for review. This was the only representative of his famous design the celebrated artist ever saw in coin form, as he died of cancer on August 3, 1907. Only one of these coins can be traced today. It was last publicly offered in Heritage Auctions' 2012 FUN Sale and now resides in the Tyrant Collection.
The Mint technicians hurriedly constructed a segmented tripartite collar, as described in Norris' letter above. Two segments were designed to produce 15 raised stars on the edge of the coin, and the third would impart 16 irregularly spaced stars to the edge, with the final two stars noticeably larger than the others (while the edge of the present coin cannot be imaged due to the holder, a stock image of the Irregular Stars is shown to illustrate the key feature). A small number of experimental Wire Rim coins (including the specimen offered here) were struck on the Mint's medal press, using this Irregular Edge Stars collar. One example was sent to Philadelphia Mint Superintendent Landis by Chief Engraver Charles Barber , along with an example of his newly created Rolled Edge variety, on August 26, 1907. These coins were accompanied by a letter in which Barber explained the disadvantages of the Wire Rim design. He noted that the design lacked a protective rim or border around the edge, which resulted in metal being extruded through the narrow gap between the collar and the die and the formation of the eponymous Wire Rim. It was feared this rim would quickly wear away in commerce, resulting in coins that were underweight and unacceptable to banks and merchants. In addition, the high relief of the coins made it necessary to strike them on the medal press, or strike the planchets more than once on the regular coin press, to adequately bring up the details of the design and they would not stack properly for counting purposes. The Mint officials all agreed Barber's Rolled Edge design was a better option for modern high-speed coinage, although some striking problems still persisted with that design.
Meanwhile, after viewing the Plain Edge Judd-1902 example sent to him for observation, President Roosevelt reluctantly concluded that the high relief of the Wire Rim design was impractical. He directed the Mint to concentrate on a more efficient lower relief design for the eagle. However, on July 29, he ordered the Mint to strike a small production of Wire Rim tens for presentation purposes and sale to collectors:
"As for the high relief coins, have several hundred struck and allow the collectors of the country to obtain specimens as you suggested, none to be issued until the new issue is out. They should be preserved as the work of a great American artist."
Accordingly, a new collar, with more regularly spaced stars was constructed and USPatterns.com notes 500 examples of the Wire Rim design were struck in late August through early September, and 42 more were produced between September and December 31. As it turns out, 70 examples were never distributed, and were later melted, leaving the issue with a meager net mintage of 472 pieces. Unfortunately, Mint records are silent on how many experimental coins with the Irregular Edge Stars were produced, and it is not known if the initial 500-piece mintage figure includes the Irregular Edge Stars specimens or not. Three examples of the Irregular Edge Stars variety are included in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, and four specimens have been certified by PCGS, two in MS64 and two more in MS65 (10/25). In the end, both the Wire Rim and Rolled Edge versions of the 1907 Indian eagle were abandoned, in favor of Henry Hering's lower relief, No Periods design, which was used for regular-issue coinage until 1933.
The present coin is a spectacular Choice example, with a bold strike on the central design elements and just a touch of softness at the peripheries. The well-preserved orange-gold surfaces are lustrous and appealing, with only scattered, minor signs of contact. Overall eye appeal is outstanding for this landmark gold rarity. Although PCGS does not certify the rare Irregular Edge Stars eagles as patterns, both Roger Burdette and USPatterns.com classify them as true experimental pieces. As such, they are among the most exciting and significant numismatic issues of the early 20th century. We expect intense competition from advanced Indian eagle specialists and pattern collectors when this lot is called. This coin is pictured on PCGS CoinFacts on the page devoted to the Irregular Edge Stars variety. Population (Irregular Edge Stars): 2 in 64, 2 finer (10/25).
Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 98850, Greysheet# 376119)
Auction Info
2025 November 13 - 14 US Coins Signature® Auction #1387 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
November
13th
Thursday
5:50 pm CT
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November
13th-14th
Thursday-Friday
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(Lots 3464-3713) - 6:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, November 13, 2025.
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Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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