In the eyes of the Professional Coin Grading Service, John Kutasi?s collection of $10 Indian Head gold pieces is the finest around.
Listed in the PCGS Set Registry as ?the number one finest set of all time? of Indian Head $10 circulation strikes, Kutasi?s collection (1907-1933) will be exhibited publicly for the first first time at the Long Beach, Calif., Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, which will be held Feb. 9-11 at the Long Beach, Calif., Convention Center.
The display will be featured during the show at the PCGS booth.
?The Saint-Gaudens $10 Indians are a work of art and my favorite series. I never thought I would own a complete set and didn?t start building this set until January 2004,? said Kutasi, who estimates the value of the set ?north of $3.5 million, but current values do not truly reflect the rarity of this series.?
The set?s weighted grade point average is 65.73 compared to a possible highest average of 66.52 of all finest known specimens, PCGS records.
?John Kutasi built a phenomenal collection of 20th century U.S. gold coins, particularly $10 Indians and $20 Saint-Gaudens double eagles, in just a few short years,? said Ron Guth, president of PCGS. ?Many collectors spend a lifetime trying to reach the goals that John has attained. It?s not just about money, either. John built his collection through drive, determination, and the willingness to solicit the help of knowledgeable dealers who had access to coins that might not otherwise have become available. His success is proof that nothing can stand in the way of a determined collector.?
According to B.J. Searls, manager of the PCGS Set Registry, Kutasi?s complete collection of Indian Head eagles contains 13 coins that are either the finest known or tied for finest known examples.
Included among them are: a 1907 Wire Edge, PCGS MS-66; a 1907 Rolled Edge, PCGS MS-67; a 1907 No Motto, PCGS MS-67; a 1909-S, PCGS MS-67; a 1911-D, PCGS MS-65; a 1913-S, PCGS MS-66; a 1920-S, PCGS MS-66; and a 1933, PCGS MS-65.