1907 Proof Eagle Pattern - J-1774/1901

Coin Details

Description

Judd-1774 is a proof pattern for the 1907 Indian Head eagle, the companion piece to Saint-Gaudens' double eagle in Theodore Roosevelt's gold coinage renaissance. While Saint-Gaudens is best known for the double eagle, his Indian Head eagle design is equally revolutionary — it features a left-facing Liberty wearing a Native American feathered war bonnet on the obverse, with a standing eagle on the reverse. Most remarkably, both designs are rendered in incuse (sunken) relief, meaning the design elements are recessed below the coin's flat field rather than raised above it. This incuse technique, unique in regular-issue American coinage, was controversial from the outset, with critics arguing that the recessed areas would harbor germs and dirt. Saint-Gaudens originally conceived the eagle design in conventional raised relief, but the incuse format was adopted to prevent the high-relief stacking problems encountered with the double eagle. The dual catalog number reflects Judd (J-1774) and PCGS (1901) reference systems. This pattern documents the design in its experimental stage before entering production.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8 (Extremely Rare). Gold eagle patterns from the Saint-Gaudens redesign are exceptionally rare, with most varieties known in fewer than 5 specimens.

Cross References

Judd J-1774, also PCGS P-1901