1910 $2.50 Indian Head Quarter Eagle NGC MS63

Here’s an attractive and more affordable piece to add to your collection. Gold specialist David Akers writes, “The typical 1910 is well struck with good to very good luster and light to medium yellow gold color. Some examples show evidence of die buckling near the borders.”  NGC has graded 1,588 as MS63 with 1,184 finer. Collectors Universe gives this issue a price of $1,850.00 in MS63.

A painting of Bela Lyon Pratt, the artist-engraver who created this beautiful coin design. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

One day, shortly after Bela Lyon Pratt (1867-1916) celebrated his 5th birthday, the family physician was at the Pratt home. On the stand were small models of a cat, dog, horse, a deer and some other animals. Noticing them, the doctor picked them up and exclaimed, “Who made these?” Bela’s mother impatiently blurted out, “Bela pinches them out of beeswax. I can’t keep a bit of wax in my work basket. He always plays with it.”

“Why don’t you realize that child is a genius? He is a born sculptor!” declared the doctor to Pratt’s astonished mother. It was a few decades later, in 1907-1908, that he designed one of our most beautiful coin designs, the incused Indian Head for the quarter and half eagles.