1866-S Liberty Head Eagle. Motto. AU-55+ (PCGS).

Offered is one of the finest surviving 1866 Motto eagle, an early San Francisco Mint gold issue that is unknown in Mint State. Beautiful honey-rose color blankets surfaces that retain nearly full mint frost. Smooth and attractive for the assigned grade, with bold to sharp striking detail. In your cataloger's (JLA's) opinion this piece is not all that far removed from CAC approval, and it worthy of a strong premium. Despite having a significantly higher mintage of 11,500 pieces, the 1866-S Motto is rarer than its identically dated Philadelphia Mint counterpart (just 3,750 coins struck). This is due to a much higher rate of attrition through circulation for the San Francisco Mint issue, as the continued suspension of specie payments in the East and Midwest kept Philadelphia Mint gold coins out of domestic circulation. There are no Mint State examples known; the present Choice AU ranks among the finest certified of fewer than 100 coins believed extant in all grades. Another important bidding opportunity for advanced Liberty Head eagle specialists from the Fairmont Collection.

PCGS# 8650. NGC ID: 264K.

PCGS Population: 1; 2 finer (both AU-58). AU-58 also finest at NGC.

From the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set.

Estimate: $ 11000