1910 U.S. $2.50 Indian Roman Finish NGC PF67 "Star"
1910 $2 1/2 PF67 "Star" NGC Because the coarse-grained matte proofs of 1907-1908 proved so unpopular with collectors, the Mint decided to try the "Roman Gold" finish on proofs in 1909 and 1910. The proofing process was the same as used on the matte proofs, but the coins were not sandblasted after striking. Unfortunately, although the resulting coins were brighter and more vibrant than the unpopular matte proofs, the public still found them wanting in comparison with the brilliant proofs of earlier years. The innovative "Roman Gold" finish was abandoned after 1910.
Mint records indicate a record-high mintage of 682 proof quarter eagles was accomplished in 1910, an anomaly that is hard to explain, given the number of coins surviving today. NGC and PCGS have combined to certify only 169 examples in all grades, including an unknown number of resubmissions and crossovers (3/15). The 1910-proof Indian quarter eagle was already being called "scarce" when B. Max Mehl sold an example in lot 160 of the Charles W. Cowell Collection in November of 1911, hardly an appropriate evaluation for a proof coin of which 682 pieces were struck the year before. Several theories have been proposed over the years to account for the disproportionate number of pieces reportedly struck versus the number of survivors.
Walter Breen speculated that the mintage figure was some kind of clerical error, with the Mint striking an unknown number of business-strike quarter eagles at the same time that a smaller number of proofs were struck (say 400 business-strikes and 282 proofs) but mistakenly reporting that all the coins were proofs. Breen believed that this kind of mistake might go unnoticed because the planchet count and bullion accounts would not be out of balance. Very Rare in 67 "Star"
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