1913 $2 1/2

Description

1913 Indian Head $2 1/2 Gold Coin, PCGS MS-63. This 1913 Philadelphia mint $2 1/2 gold piece represents a notable example from Bela Lyon Pratt's iconic Indian Head quarter eagle series. Composed of 90% gold and 10% copper, this piece contains approximately 0.1209 troy ounces of pure gold. The coin exhibits the characteristic design elements that made this series distinctive, with the incused (recessed) motifs that were revolutionary for their time. The present example, graded PCGS MS-63 (Certificate #20498740), displays the above-average strike quality and lustre that distinguishes the 1913 issue from many of its contemporaries in the series. The surfaces show the slightly granular texture typical of these quarter eagles, with a light to medium yellow gold color consistent with the 1909-1910 coinage. With a mintage of 722,000 pieces from Philadelphia, this date represents a moderate production year, though significant attrition has occurred over the past century. The 1913 occupies an interesting position in the series hierarchy. While marginally less rare than the 1912 overall, it becomes increasingly scarce in higher grades. Population data reflects 1,338 examples graded finer than this specimen among 1,801 total submissions to PCGS, indicating that MS-63 represents a respectable intermediate grade. Gem condition examples (MS-65 and above) are exceptionally difficult to locate, making this well-preserved example an attractive acquisition for collectors seeking quality representation of this underappreciated date.