1912-S $5 MS63 认证号45977689, PCGS号8524

LOT DESCRIPTION Exceptional Choice Uncirculated 1912-S Half Eagle 1912-S Indian Half Eagle. MS-63 (PCGS). This is a boldly colored example displaying rose-honey surfaces. It is also sharply struck in most areas with pleasing satin luster. The S mintmark is typically soft, yet near-fully outlined and readily identifiable. A condition rarity at this grade level, and one of the more difficult issues to find at all from this popular 20th century gold series. The 1912 San Francisco Mint coins were not scarce when struck - the 1912-S half eagle has a relatively generous mintage of 392,000 coins - but after the mid 1930s most of these were melted down. Perhaps a few thousand or so exist today, virtually all of them circulated to some degree, and only a small percentage are still in Mint State, most of course at the lower range. For the date and mint specialist of this series, this condition rarity Choice example would make a welcome addition and greatly enhance any advanced collection. Provenance: From the Fairmont Collection - CBL Set.

David Akers (1975/88)

If one considers overall appearance or "eye appeal" as part of the grade, then the 1912-S could possibly be considered the rarest Indian Head half eagle in MS-64 of better condition because it is all but impossible to find a really attractive one. Actually, any Mint State 1912-S is rare and, above MS-63, the issue is almost impossible to locate. A few MS-65 gems do exist but I have never seen one any better than that.

The 1912-S is one of the most poorly made, if not the absolute most poorly made, gold issues of the 20th century. The Mint had serious die problems for this isssue and nearly all specimens have a nearly invisible, amorphous mintmark and below-average lustre. In addition, the dies usually show signs of deterioration near the rims and the overall result is not very pleasing to the eye. The only positive thing one can say is that the color of a typical 1912-S is usually quite good, light to medium orange gold being the most common, although rich yellow gold examples exist as well. Note: On a very, very few specimens, the mintmark is sharp and well defined and the strike and lustre are very good, almost up to the standards of the 1909-S and 1910-S, if not the 1908-S.