1908-S $5 MS68 PCGS....

Description

1908-S Indian Half Eagle, MS68
First Year of Design
Tied for Finest Certified

1908-S $5 MS68 PCGS. Ex: Simpson. The 1908-S Indian half eagle claims a small mintage of 82,000 pieces, the lowest of all S-mint five dollar Indians and third lowest in the series, trailing only the 1909-O and the 1911-D. The Indian motif was designed by Bela Lyon Pratt and features a naturalistic portrait of a Native American on the obverse. The coins were struck in sunken relief. This unfamiliar naturalism and the novel sunken relief were reason enough for both collectors and the general public to set aside a number of these special coins, especially in 1908, the first year of issue.

This piece is tied for finest known with a single MS68 coin certified by NGC (4/20). We do not know this coin's pedigree prior to its appearance in our 2005 ANA Signature. However, Walter Breen mentioned that Virgil Brand once had a small group of Mint State examples (he purchased 12 half eagles directly from the Mint that year and listed them as number 46005 in his journal). Perhaps this amazing example traces its history back to that group, which David Akers said "contained a number of gems as well as several superb pieces." It is likely Akers had this coin in mind when he said this, since he was an owner of this magnificent specimen at one time.

In general terms, 1908-S half eagles were sharply struck, with strong mintmarks. This is especially significant, for the present example has an S mintmark with exactly the same characteristics as found on the popular 1909-S VDB cent. The most visible characteristic is a small lump inside the upper left curve of the letter. Mintmark punches were used over several years, as long as they were still serviceable.

This incredible specimen is fully struck and highly lustrous, with frosted reddish-gold surfaces that show an occasional trace of lilac. According to Akers: "Most specimens have very good to excellent luster and the color is typically reddish gold or coppery." The only pedigree markers we see that might possibly show up in older photographs of this coin is a shallow, square-shaped planchet flake in the field below UN in UNITED and a second longer, shallow mark at 8 o'clock near the reverse border. This coin is pictured on PCGS CoinFacts. Population: 1 in 68, 0 finer (8/20).
Ex: Possibly Virgil Brand, purchased directly from the Mint in 1908, Brand Journal number 46005; unknown intermediaries; David Akers, per Legend Numismatics; ANA Signature (Heritage, 7/2005), lot 10366; Jim O'Neal Collection (Heritage, 1/2011), lot 5135, realized $126,500; Philadelphia Signature (Heritage, 8/2012), lot 5373, realized $164,500.(Registry values: N10218)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 28DG, PCGS# 8512, GSID# 9318)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Mintage: 82,000

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.

View Certification Details from PCGS