1864-S $10 XF45 PCGS....

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Feb 27, 2014 for:

$117,500.00 Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

1864-S Eagle, XF45
Lowest-Mintage 1864 Gold Issue
Extremely Rare Eagle, Unknown in Mint State

1864-S $10 XF45 PCGS. The 1864-S eagle is a marvelously rare issue in the long Liberty Head series, one that is far rarer even than the small mintage figure of 2,500 pieces would suggest. Of all the gold coins issued in this year, only the double eagles were struck in significant quantity, specifically in the hundreds of thousands of pieces each in Philadelphia and San Francisco.

If you see an 1864-dated gold coin of any other denomination than the double eagle, nab it if you possibly can. All are rarities. Philadelphia struck the gold dollar in the amount of 5,300 pieces for circulation, and the quarter eagle 2,824 coins. The three dollar gold and half eagle from Philadelphia saw coinages of 2,630 and 4,170 pieces for circulation, respectively, and the Philadelphia eagle was struck in the amount of 3,530 pieces.

In the case of the San Francisco Mint, it struck only the three largest gold denominations, from the half eagle through double eagle. As mentioned, the double eagle was a generous production of 793,660 pieces, but the 1864-S half eagle saw a mintage of 3,888 coins, and the 1864-S eagle 2,500 coins.

All of the foregoing makes the 1864-S eagle the lowest-mintage gold coin issue from the crucial Civil War year of 1864 -- lower, even, than the three dollar gold issue, from a series widely renowned for its low mintages. Compounding the issue's rarity is that most example circulated extensively, to the point that the average certified survivor -- of which there are few in any grade -- is only VF35 or a tad better. Mint State examples are unknown, and AU coins are extremely elusive.

This is the second example of the 1864-S eagle to be offered in the Bently Collection. The first, an XF45 NGC-certified example, brought a staggering $99,875 in our recently concluded FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2014), lot 5490. This example, graded XF45 by PCGS, shows deep reddish patina with a bold, well-detailed strike on each side. Some scrapes appearing in the obverse field before Liberty's profile are the only mentionable marks, along with one just below the hair bun. The overall eye appeal is top-notch. Collectors are clearly realizing the potential of this important, low-mintage issue. Population: 6 in 45, 4 finer (1/14).
From Christopher Bently's Nob Hill Collection.(Registry values: N4719)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 264E, PCGS# 8640, Greysheet# 9463)

Weight: 16.72 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS