Because of the fact that it is the first Indian Head Half Eagle struck at the Denver Mint, the 1908-D is a very popular issue. It is far scarcer than the 1908 in terms of overall rarity but comparable in the lower Uncirculated grades. It becomes much scarcer in MS64 and MS65 examples are extremely rare. In fact, the 1908-D Indian Head Half Eagle is far rarer than the lower-mintage, more-heralded 1908-S in MS65 and above.

The 1908-D Indian Head Half Eagle is usually somewhat softly struck with the obverse not as well detailed as seen on the Philadelphia issue from this year. The reverse is a bit better struck but many pieces have some weakness on the feathers. The mintmark is sometimes blurry and not fully formed.

1908-D Half Eagle: Surface Abrasions, Luster Quality, and Premium Examples

The surfaces on the 1908-D are almost always noticeably abraded. Many pieces have scratches or abrasions and finding an example that is free of detracting marks can be very difficult.

Luster on this issue is above-average with the majority of higher grade pieces showing a soft, satiny texture. This luster is rarely vibrant and many 1908-D Half Eagles have a somewhat dull appearance that might not be appealing to the collector. Flashy examples are known and these generally bring big premiums.