1913-S $5 MS60 Certification #45514990, PCGS #8526

David Akers (1975/88)

In terms of both overall rarity and condition rarity, the 1913-S is quite similar to the 1909-S, 1910-S, 1911-S and 1912-S. In MS-63 or higher grade, this issue is really very rare and gems are almost never available. At least one example better than MS-65 is known, the incredible specimen now owned by Dr. Steven Duckor, a coin formerly in the 1978 GENA sale. It looks just like a superb 1910-S and is in a class all its own. In fact, it is one of the finest Indian Head half eagles of any date or mint that I have ever seen.

The 1913-S was minted to a generally higher standard than the 1912-S but, for most known Mint State examples of this issue, not by very much. The strike is typically only average to good and the mintmark is usually very weak and little more than a shapeless "blob." Problems near the border indicate die deterioration again and the lustre is nearly always sub-par. Amazingly, however, there are a few specimens with superb lustre, a full strike and a reasonably sharp and well-defined mintmark (cf. the Dr. Steven Duckor specimen). Color is similar to the 1912-S, typically a light rose or orange gold.