1915 Indian Head Quarter Eagle
The Proof Indian quarter eagle series passed into history in 1915 with a mintage of just 100 coins. This is the lowest yearly total for the type, the Mint clearly anticipating paltry sales to a contemporary public that had long since become disenchanted with the sandblast proofing technique. The experts at PCGS CoinFacts account for a mere 60 to 75 survivors in all grades, similar to John W. Dannreuther's assertion that 70 to 80 pieces are extant. The vast majority of examples in numismatic hands are no finer than Choice in quality.
The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the August 2021 Showcase Auction, where it sold for $36,000.