1911-D $5 MS64 NGC....

Description

Challenging 1911-D Indian Head Five, MS64
Low Mintage Key

1911-D $5 MS64 NGC. At 72,500 pieces, the 1911-D Indian Head half eagle boasts the second lowest mintage of the series. The great majority of the mintage was released into circulation at the time of issue and few examples were saved by collectors. The date is seldom encountered today. In the Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins, Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth opine, " The 1911-D half eagle is one of the great rarities of the series and a very difficult coin to find in any Uncirculated grade." David Akers reports that most examples seen are in the VF-XF range. The issue is the fifth most difficult date of the series to locate in grades above MS64.
The Indian Head design was still fairly new in 1911, having debuted only three years earlier. While collectors did not greet Bela Lyon Pratt's Indian Head design with the same enthusiasm as they demonstrated for Saint-Gaudens' ten and twenty dollar coins, the smaller denominations soon found a devoted following. The 1911-D appeared in auction sales regularly by the 1940s. A particularly desirable specimen appeared as lot 588 in the J.F. Bell Collection (Stack's, 12/1944). The coin was described as "Brilliant Uncirculated" and it sold to Clifford T. Weihman for $55. More recently, a PCGS graded MS65 example sold for $241,500 in 2006.
The present coin is a memorable example of this important date. An unusually sharp strike imparts crisp detail to all the design elements. The luminous surfaces are a pleasing yellow-gold color. No obvious or detracting handling marks are evident. NGC has certified 13 coins at the Near Gem level, with only three finer; while PCGS has graded 12 examples in MS64, with two finer (6/09).(Registry values: N10218)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 28DR, PCGS# 8521, GSID# 9324)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Melt Value: $231.00
Gold Spot: $955/oz (07-31-2009)
Mintage: 72,500

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

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