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Sale 78
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Lot 1896
1908-D. With Motto. PCGS graded MS-65. Lovely golden toning. A nice frosty coin. Highly radiant and largely bright with warm golden highlights on both sides. All but fully struck, with just an insubstantial touch of weakness at a few of the eagle’s breast feathers; the details are bold and pleasing elsewhere. A solidly graded Gem MS65 example of this extremely elusive issue.Pop 319; 33 finer, 3 in 65+, 26 in 66, 1 in 66+, 3 in 67. (PCGS # 9148) .
Note: Omitting the customary motto IN GOD WE TRUST was important for President Roosevelt. As early as April 1907, he asked Director Roberts for an opinion. According to Roger Burdette's research in the archives: "Roberts replied that it was not required by law, but that the Solicitor of the Treasury said that the motto had been in use for so long that that Congress may have lost the ability to prevent its use." Roosevelt asked that the motto be removed on the new gold coin designs and all Double Eagles and Eagles issued in 1907 lacked the motto.
The Breen Encyclopedia explains the motto’s return in 1908: "Though there is much to be said for Roosevelt's view, Congress disagreed, feeling (like much of the general public) that anyone opposing the use of God's name on coins was of necessity an atheist and probably an anarchist or even a Bolshevik. Congress therefore ordered that henceforth all coins large enough to accommodate the motto should do so, in compliance with the Act of March 3, 1865.
"[Mint Engraver Charles] Barber reworked the double eagle reverse to carry this motto. His revision had nine tail feathers instead of the former eight, and 33 rays instead of 34, but the location of rays remained unaltered. Barber omitted one at extreme 1. [left], and made the heavy rays thinner and some of them longer.".
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $5,875 |
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