Lot 1547
1907 $10 Indian. Wire rim, periods. PCGS graded MS-64. Delicate natural golden sunset toning graces the surfaces on both sides. A rare and popular transitional issue, one of a handful of pieces made without intentions of circulation, technically making the Wire Edge eagle a Pattern (Judd-1774). This issue was the closest the mint came to reproducing the ten-dollar design as conceived by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Theodore Roosevelt. The presently offered coin has subtly variegated shades of golden and russet-orange color with only the smallest marks, none of them singular or important. The die polishing residue (common to all specimens and in the form of raised swirl lines) is slightly more pronounced on the reverse fields and overall the coin has a fresh, uncleaned satiny sheen. Only 500 minted. Pop. 102; 62 finer with 44 in 65, 15 in 66, 3 in 67 (PCGS # 8850) .
The obverse shows a stately head of Liberty whose Indian war bonnet puts a finishing touch on her head, the band is inscribed LIBERTY. Around the edge in the upper half of the field are 13 pointed stars, below the neck the date 1907. There are 46 stars on the edge in place of the usual milling. (This edge was imparted by a segmented collar which withdrew after the blow imparting the design to allow the newly struck coin to eject.)
The placing of the head with a blank space in front was believed to be very artistic. At first blush the feathered bonnet looks too large, but after the eye becomes accustomed to it no complaint can be made. The general pose of the head, its position on the coin, and the arrangement of the headdress resembles very closely several of the ancient Greek coins.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 45,000.
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| Realized $50,600 |
