1909 Indian Half Eagle. MS-66 (PCGS).

1909 Indian Half Eagle. MS-66 (PCGS).，A breathtakingly beautiful coin with outstanding technical quality for this conditionally challenging 20th century gold series. Both sides are bathed in a blend of vivid rose-orange patina and billowy mint luster, the texture satin to softly frosted as typically noted in Mint State survivors of this issue. The strike is razor sharp down to the lowermost feathers in the Native Americans headdress, and the surfaces are overall pristine with truly memorable eye appeal. With a respectable mintage of 627,060 circulation strikes and an above average rate of survival, the 1909 is one of the more readily obtainable Indian half eagles in todays market. Quite a few Gems exist, the issue actually ranking after only the 1908 and 1909-D as the most plentiful Indian five in high grades (read: MS-65 and finer). In an absolute sense MS-66s are rare, the present example rivalling the finest known per the listing in the 2008 revision to David W. Akers reference <em>A Handbook of 20th Century United States Gold Coins: 1907-1933</em>. Certified population data further confirms this coin as a Condition Census 1909 half eagle, the kind of rarity that would serve as a highlight in the finest collection of Indian and Saint-Gaudens gold coinage.，，