1911-D $2.50 Strong D MS(PCGS#7943)

June 2023 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2059

Grade

MS63

Price

13,200

Lot Description

Fabled Key Date 1911-D Quarter Eagle 1911-D Indian Quarter Eagle. Strong D. MS-63 (NGC). This coin offers exceptional quality and eye appeal for an elusive, conditionally challenged Indian $2.50 issue. Beautiful surfaces are bathed in a bold blend of golden-apricot color and frosty mint luster. Smartly impressed with sharp detail throughout the design, there is much to recommend this Choice Strong D example to discerning 20th century gold collectors. Bela Lyon Pratt's Indian designs for the quarter eagle and half eagle were novel when introduced in 1908. The incuse design had never before been seen on an American coin and has not been used since on any circulating issue. For many collectors, the Indian quarter eagle series is a straightforward challenge with only 15 issues to obtain, most of which are acquired with only a fair amount of effort depending on the desired grade level. There is one notable exception, the 1911-D. Most mintage figures for the series range between a quarter million to three-quarters of a million pieces. However, at the Denver Mint in 1911 only 55,680 coins were produced. Most were very well struck, though on many the mintmark is weakly defined; these are not nearly as desirable as those with a strong D mintmark, as here. For whatever reason, not many 1911-D quarter eagles were saved at the time of issue and the coins disappeared into commerce. While the issue's low mintage has always been an indicator of its scarcity, the advent of the certification services and their population figures has allowed a clearer picture of survival rates and overall rarity. The 1911-D's position as by far the rarest of the series has withstood the test of time. Fortunately, a significant portion of survivors are in and around Mint State, mostly between AU-55 and MS-62. In MS-63 examples appear only infrequently, while any finer and this issue emerges as an important condition rarity. For the numismatist assembling an advanced Indian quarter eagle set, this upper end 1911-D certified by NGC represents a significant bidding opportunity. PCGS# 7943. NGC ID: EGZ7. Click here for certification details from NGC.