SCARCE BORDERLINE GEM 1914 HALF EAGLE

The 1914 is the second scarcest Indian Head half eagle from this mint after the 1929. It is usually seen in AU and the lower Uncirculated grades and it is scarce in MS64 and very scarce in Gem. Most of the coins I have seen in MS64 holders are low end for the grade.

This borderline Gem has the look which sophisticated collectors of this series seek: a rich, grainy texture overlaid with splashes of natural orange-gold and green hues. There are just a few small ticks seen in the fields and on the portrait while the reverse is of Gem quality.

The last APR for a PCGS MS64+ 1914 half eagle with CAC approval is $5,170 set by Heritage 2015 ANA: 6214. A total of 22 1915 half eagles have been graded MS64+ by PCGS; it is unknown how many have been approved by CAC.

A CAC approved PCGS MS65 example of this date, if available, would sell in excess of $12,500-13,500. This nice MS64+ seems like a great value at around a third of this level.

CAC has approved 44 in MS64 with 11 finer.