1913 $2 1/2

Description

1913 Indian Head Quarter Eagle, PCGS MS-63. This 1913 $2 1/2 gold piece represents a notably underappreciated issue in the Indian Head Quarter Eagle series. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of 722,000 pieces, this date occupies an interesting position in the series—only marginally less scarce than the 1912 overall, though the distinction between the 1913, 1912, 1909, 1910, and 1911 is quite subtle. The significance of this piece becomes apparent in gem grades, where the 1913 achieves the same extreme rarity as the 1912, with examples in MS-65 or finer exceptionally difficult to locate. A handful of superb MS-67 examples are known to exist, though few have appeared on the market in recent years. The present example, certified by PCGS as MS-63, displays the characteristics that distinguish this issue favorably within the series. The 1913 typically exhibits superior striking quality and notably above-average luster compared to other dates, particularly the 1911 and 1912. The surfaces display the somewhat granular texture characteristic of Indian Head $2.5 and $5 issues, while the color presents the light to medium yellow gold hue typical of the 1909 and 1910 issues. The reeded edge and standard specifications—90% gold and 10% copper composition, 4.18 grams, 18mm diameter—remain consistent with the series design by Bela Lyon Pratt. Population data indicates 1,339 examples graded finer than this specimen, with a total of 1,801 pieces certified across all grades, reflecting the relative availability of this date in lower grades but its genuine scarcity in collector-preferred higher conditions.