1908 $10 Motto MS(PCGS#8859)

The August 2013 Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

4533

Grade

MS68

Price

58,750

Lot Description

Census Topping Superb Gem 1908 Motto Indian Eagle 1908 Indian Eagle. Motto. MS-68 (NGC). A coin of incredible quality for this date or any date from this series. Strong mint luster is seen throughout, with considerable yellow-gold residing in the fields dash of orange-gold frost on the devices. The strike is well above average for this issue, as is the luster. There are a few very tiny contact marks when closely studied but none worthy of mention. This piece is undoubtedly Condition Census for the issue and tied as the finest seen with three others at NGC; similar numbers are noted at PCGS where another three are MS-68 and all are topped by a single MS-68+ at PCGS. In general, the 1908 Motto issue is not that difficult to obtain. The mintage of 341,486 pieces suffered the usual mass meltings in later years, and today there are perhaps three to four percent of the original mintage around. This is one of the more common issues in the series, although it is certainly much less often seen in Gem condition than the 1907 No Periods and the 1926 and 1932 issues. PCGS# 8859. Provenance: From the Bentley Shores Collection. NGC Census: 4; none finer.