LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2004 June Long Beach Signature Sale #349 - Sessi...  / 

6343

1908-S[$10] MS66 NGC.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1908-S[$10] MS66 NGC.
<B>1908-S<$10> MS66 NGC.</B></I> The Congressional mandate of 1908 that returned the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to the ten dollar gold piece provided an excuse for Charles E. Barber to once again vent his frustrations over the Mint's adoption of an outsider's superior design. In actuality, Barber's influence over the Indian Head eagle's motif predates Congress' assertion a year. The initial relief of Saint-Gaudens' design, like that of his double eagle, was too bold for its own good. While the breathtaking features stand out in unparalleled beauty on the early high relief patterns of 1907, the accompanying die wastage and production time would never suffice for regular issue coinage. Accordingly, the first 239,406 business strikes to emerge from the Philadelphia Mint in 1907 incorporated Barber's crude modifications. In addition to lowering the relief, the Chief Engraver omitted the triangular periods that once delineated E PLURIBUS UNUM, redesigned the branch, reshaped several of the letters in the legends, strengthened the feathers in the headdress, and reworked some of Liberty's hair curls. In 1908, in addition to adding the motto in the reverse field before the eagle, Barber continued to tinker with minor design elements in a vain effort to improve the striking quality of the denomination. While these inconspicuous alterations did strengthen certain key features, they failed to achieve the Chief Engraver's original goal, and poor impressions would continue to be the norm until the denomination's demise in 1933.<BR> The present Gem possesses all of the qualities that never fail to excite eager bidders. It is the first S-mint installment in this popular series and among the first With Motto issues. While the eagle's shoulder and talon, as well as Liberty's highest hair curls, exhibit characteristic incompleteness of definition, the balance of this coin is smartly impressed and quite crisply defined for the series. Although many of the 59,850 pieces that the west coast branch mint delivered in 1908 saw circulation, this gorgeous specimen was delicately preserved over the past ten decades. The frosty, orange-gold surfaces are smooth, although, for accuracy, we mention a somewhat distracting abrasion in the left obverse field that joins the bottom of star 1 to the tip of Liberty's nose. An important piece, we anticipate stiff competition for this specimen from the numerous gold specialists who will accept only the best for their prized collections. Population: 5 in 66, 2 finer (4/04). <BR><BR><B>Important notice:</B> Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Since eBay bids are not shown to us until we open the lot on the floor, we treat those bids just like floor bids. In most cases the floor responds before the eBay bid is presented to us, due to Internet lag time, so for consistency we have made it a policy that floor bids are always considered first over tie eBay live bids. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid.
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