1926 $10 MS63 Certification #32615249, PCGS #8882

David Akers (1975/88)

The 1926 is the second most common issue of this type after the 1932. Thousands of Mint State examples are known, and specimens are available with regularity in all Mint State grades up to and including MS-64. In MS-63 and lower grades, this issue is downright plentiful, at least by Indian Head eagle standards. Gems are more scarce than many realize (considerably more so than gems of 1932), but are still seen quite often. A very few superb quality pieces are known but even this "common" issue is extremely rare in grades better than MS-65. Although the 1926 is often put in the same cateory as the 1932 as far as rarity is concerned, it is actually substantially more rare, especially in MS-65 condition.

Nearly all 1926 eagles are well struck and the lustre is rarely, if ever, less than very good to excellent. Color varies widely from greenish gold to light to medium orange gold. Many specimens also have coppery spots. Frosty specimens are the rule but a small percentage have somewhat satiny surfaces. Many specimens exhibit unsightly surface "cuts" that seem considerably worse than one would mormally expect as bagmakrs. Is there an explanation for this?