Heritage to Auction Unique Indian Eagle Gold Pattern at FUN

Dallas, Texas: Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc., the official auctioneer of the 2003 FUN Convention, will be offering a unique 1907 Indian Eagle pattern as part of its January 8-11 Signature Sale at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The coin is thought to be the first Indian Eagle struck by the United States Mint.

According to Heritage Executive VP and Partner Greg Rohan, “Collectors have long known that the Philadelphia Mint struck 500 Wire Rim Indian Eagles in 1907, all of which display 46 stars on the edge. Survivors of this early Indian Eagle delivery are prized as rarities. What many collectors do not know, however, is that a single proof 1907 Wire Rim Indian Eagle was struck. This specimen, which is unique, was struck with a plain edge (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?308019001).”

“Very little is known about the provenance of this unique 1907 Wire Rim Eagle with a plain edge,” stated Bob Korver, Heritage’s Director of Auctions. “The coin was unknown to Edgar H. Adams and William H. Woodin when they published their book on patterns in 1913. It was, however, featured in the book United States Pattern, Experimental and Trial Pieces by Dr. J. Hewitt Judd, and it is also listed in the 1994 book United States Pattern and Related Issues by Andrew W. Pollock III. It is attributed, respectively, as Judd-1774A and Pollock-1996 in these books.”

Continued Rohan: “This unique pattern has recently been certified by NGC with the grade of PR62 and the added designation ‘Satin.’ To the best of our knowledge, the offering of this coin in our January 2003 FUN Signature Sale represents its first public auction appearance.”

When asked about the value of this important coin, Heritage Co-Chairman Jim Halperin stated: “I hesitate to predict the piece's value, since nothing comparable has been on the market in decades, but considering its importance and desirability, it should certainly bring a strong six-figure price."

Heritage’s Catalog Production Manager Jeff Ambio described the coin as “an impressive representative of the Wire Rim Indian Eagle with satin finish surfaces that reveal very fine granularity under close inspection with a loupe.” He went on to state that, “Careful scrutiny also reveals a few striations here and there, but their numbers are far fewer than those of the random, irregular striations seen on business strike 1907 Wire Rim Eagles. The devices are bold, broad, and possessed of majesty that is lacking from later, modified issues of this type.”

The Heritage name is recognized worldwide for bringing unparalleled value to every consignor and bidder. Year 2001 sales exceeded $150 million and assets were approximately $30 million. HeritageCoin.com is the Internet's most popular and highly trafficked rare coin site, with over 63,000 registered members. HeritageCoin.com is the only coin site chosen twice by Forbes.com’s Best of the Web (1999 and 2001) as one of the 250 best websites on the Internet, and also won the most recent Numismatic Literary Guild award for Best Numismatic Internet Site. For more information on how to consign your coins to the FUN Signature Sale contact one of your consignment coordinators at 800 US COINS (872.6467). We also invite you to visit us on the web at http://www.HeritageCoin.com There is still room to consign to this outstanding auction. The consignment deadline is November 27.