1908-D $10 No Motto AU58 Certification #35458845, PCGS #8854

CAC

David Akers (1975/88)

In any Mint State grade, the 1908-D no Motto is very difficult to locate. Most of the known examples grade from MS-60 to MS-63 and one almost never sees an example in MS-64 condition. True gems are extremely rare and the Kruthoffer specimen is the only one I have seen that has a legitimate claim to being better than MS-65. All in all, this is a very underrated issue, especially in gem condition where it is virtually unobtainable.

I said the 1908 No Motto is one of the most attractive issues of the series in top grade. Well, this is one of the least attractive, due largely to the fact that it is generally flatly struck on the obverse and is decidedly lacklustre. (An exception to this "rule" is the superb Kruthoffer coin, and there are a very few others as well, but most are weak and dull.) Almost all examples I have seen have been frosty with slight granularity to the surface, but I have also seen others that were very satiny. Color is usually good to very good with the typical specimen a light orange gold color, sometimes with a greenish cast.