1926 $2.50 Indian Head Quarter Eagle PCGS MS63

Here’s an affordable—and quite beautiful—piece to add to your collection. PCGS has graded 3,940 of this issue as MS63, with 4,556 finer. Collectors Universe prices this issue at $775.00 in MS63.

David Akers writes, “Most examples of this date are very frosty and lustrous with a sharp strike. Color varies, with some specimens having a pale rose gold color and others having a rich greenish gold color. The "eye appeal" of … specimens of this issue is among the best, if not the absolute best, in the series.”

Painting of Bela Lyon Pratt, who crafted the design of this iconic coin. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Bela Lyon Pratt (1867-1916) was a little boy.  Just barely 5 years old. But he was a talented artist even at that young age. It was around that time that the family doctor was at the Pratt house. During his visit, small items on a stand caught his eye. He took a close look at them. They were tiny models of a dog, cat, horse, deer and other creatures. He reached out and picked up one of them, inspecting it carefully.

Excitedly, he exclaimed, "Who made these?" Bela's mother said, "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 decade later, in 1907-1908, that he designed one of our most beautiful coins.