LOT #4835 |
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1908 $5 JD-1, R.4, PR66 NGC....
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Sold on Jan 16, 2025 for:
$75,000.00
Bid Source: Internet bidder
Description
1908 Indian Half Eagle, PR66
First Year of Design
Seldom Seen Finer
1908 $5 JD-1, R.4, PR66 NGC. Sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt's
innovative incuse Indian design was introduced on the half eagle in
1908, heralding a new era in proof gold coinage. The sunken relief
of the design made it impossible to polish the fields and frost the
devices to produce the popular brilliant proofs of earlier years.
Instead, the Mint introduced an artistic matte sandblast finish for
proof half eagles in 1908. In his authoritative reference,
United States Proof Coins, Vol. IV: Gold, John Dannreuther
explains the striking process for the new proofs:"The coins were first struck with specially prepared dies; afterwards, they were placed under a fine stream of sand while being held in a glove. The size and intensity of the blast determines the look of each coin, as the color and facets differ from year to year; sometimes, even coins in the same year have a different look."
Although the sandblast finish is admired today, contemporary collectors were initially disappointed and preferred the old brilliant proofs. Anticipating high collector demand for the new design, the Mint struck an ambitious mintage of 500 proof half eagles in 1908, but only 167 examples were ever distributed. The unsold remainders were melted after the end of the year. John Dannreuther estimates the surviving population at 80 to 100 examples in all grades. Today, the 1908 proofs are popular with series specialists and type collectors, alike. Examples are widely sought after and the issue is rare at the Premium Gem grade level. NGC has graded only 13 numerically finer examples (11/24).
The coin offered here is a spectacular Premium Gem proof, with razor-sharp definition on all design elements. The impeccably preserved mustard-gold surfaces show the textured matte luster typical of the issue. A faint die crack is evident from the 8 in the date to the point of star 13. Overall eye appeal is outstanding. This coin should find a home in a fine collection or type set. Census: 26 in 66, 13 finer (11/24).
From The rhp Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 106951, Base PCGS# 8539)
Weight: 8.36 grams
Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
View all of [The rhp Collection ]
Auction Info
2025 January 14 - 19 FUN US Coins Signature® Auction #1380 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
January, 2025
14th-19th
Tuesday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 12
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 225
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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