Lot 1282
1907 $10 Indian. Wire rim, periods. PCGS graded MS-66. An exquisite specimen featuring immaculate satiny smooth surfaces throughout. Simply a superb sun bright golden gem that should draw considerable bidder interest. Only 500 minted.
As we have commented upon elsewhere, 1907 was a watershed year in American numismatics. Tossed out were several mediocre coin designs that had outlived their usefulness. Teddy Roosevelt, spearheading the revolution, forced the Mint to bring its coinage design up to twentieth century standards. This was an era when politicians and statesmen were flexing the government's muscles, so to speak. America's brand-new navy, christened the Great White Fleet was steaming around the world on its grand tour as sort of a chest-pounding exercise. What we were telling the other great powers was that America, too, was a power to be reckoned with; America, too, could throw its iron muscle around; America, too, had the wherewithal to defend its beliefs. Regardless of one's opinion of nationalism, whether it be all mighty or all foolhardy, Theodore Roosevelt was in the vanguard of this American "awakening." These elegant Ten Dollar Pieces by Augustus Saint-Gaudens were one of the more visible aspects of this modernization program, and should be cherished as others cherish artifacts from prior, historic openings.
It is difficult to turn your gaze away from the lovely color of this coin after communing with its satin to matte-like surfaces. The fields show a myriad of light raised die polishing marks, indicative of the preparation of the dies in anticipation of actual coinage. Some might almost mistake this as a Satin Proof, since the die polishing lines are quite similar to those seen on Proof 1907 High Relief Double Eagles and the Satin Proof 1907 "Rolled Edge" $10. However, we'll leave it to our bidding audience to decide how to value this impeccable MS66 example of one of the more famous U.S. gold pieces.
What a marvel it is to hold, catalog, study intently, and photograph. We can only imagine the thrill that the new owner will get from the mere pleasure of possessing this jewel. Pop 15; 3 in 67 (PCGS # 8850) .
Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000.
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| Realized $97,750 |
