For many years, the 1913-S was believed to be the rarest Indian Head Eagle in Gem Uncirculated. Third-party grading has shown that this honor belongs to the 1911-D but the 1913-S is still an exceedingly rare coin in MS65 which creates considerable interest whenever it appears for sale. Just six have been graded at the MS65 level or better.

NGC reports that two MS67’s have been graded with none higher and PCGS reports a single MS66 with none higher.

1913-S Indian Head Eagle: Scarcity and Bold Strikes

This date overall ranks in the top third of all Indian Eagles but should still be considered very, very scarce in any grade. Most known examples seen today fall between heavily circulated VF to lightly circulated AU. Uncirculated examples are scarce in any grade and even in the near Gem condition of MS64 there are just twenty-five examples graded by NGC and PCGS combined.

The 1913-S Indian Head Eagle usually comes very boldly struck, unlike the 1912-S that preceded it, and enhanced definition can be seen throughout. Like the 1911-S, this issue shows a partial rim exhibited on the obverse of the coin.