Lot 2153
1908-D. PCGS graded MS-63. CAC Approved. First year issue. When Bela Lyon Pratt's new Indian head motif was launched upon the American waters in 1908, the public was surprised (to put it mildly). Never before in American numismatics had a coin designer broken with tradition in such an overt way as did Pratt. For what Pratt did was to recess the design below the surface of the coin! Forget the fact that his Half Eagles and Quarter Eagles were far more aesthetically challenging than the long-running and tired-appearing Liberty heads they replaced. Unlike his predecessors, Pratt chose to honor a real American Indian for a change, not some made-up Greek goddess wearing an incongruous Indian headdress. And because of this, his design helped to propel American coin design into the World Class league (PCGS # 8511) Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,400
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| Realized $1,725 |
