1913 Indian Eagle. Proof. Genuine--Altered Surfaces (PCGS).A relatively affordable example of this elusive issue in the United States Mints Sandblast Proof gold series of the early 20th century. This is a fully struck coin, as befits the method of manufacture, the devices exhibiting razor sharp detail over even the most intricate design elements. Both sides possess dominant orange-gold color that is a bit more vivid than what one should expect in a Proof 1913 eagle, the typical survivor of which is honey-gold, golden-yellow or olive-gold in appearance. This color variation, along with a few swirls of light haziness that are most prominent over the lower left obverse, undoubtedly explains the PCGS qualifier. A fine grain sandblast finish is readily appreciable, especially with the aid of a loupe, and there are no marks of consequence apart from a few tiny nicks on the central high points. From a mintage of just 71 Proofs, survivors of which are rare and thought to number only 40 to 50 specimens per the experts at emPCGS CoinFacts/em. Writing in the 2008 revision to David W. Akers emA Handbook of 20th Century United States Gold Coins: 1907-1933/em, our own Jeff Ambio ranks the 1913 as the third rarest of eight Proof issues in the Indian eagle series.
