1908 $10 Motto MS61 Certification #32820100, PCGS #8859

David Akers (1975/88)

By Indian Head eagle standards, the 1908 With Motto is a "common" issue. In MS-63 or lower grade, examples can be found with relatively little difficulty. In MS-64, the issue becomes more difficult to locate, but there are still enough around that one can usually be found with a little effort. At the MS-65 level and above the 1908 With Motto is rare, but not especially so, and in any one year's period a handful or more true gems will turn up. There are some superb, nearly perfect examples of this issue in existence. For example, the piece that was in Florida dealer Marty Haber's personal type set would be graded MS-68 or MS-69 by the strictest standards, and there are others of similar quality.

The 1908 With Motto is generally very sharply struck, and the lustre is typically very good to excellent. Most specimens have a satiny texture to the surface, and the color varies from rich yellow gold to medium greenish yellow gold to light orange and greenish gold. Like the 1908 No Motto, a top quality specimen of this issue is invariably extremely attractive with an excellent strike, and fine lustre and color.