1866-S Liberty Head Eagle. Motto. AU-58 (PCGS).
Offered is probably the finest surviving 1866-S 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 worthy of the strongest 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 is the finest certified to have met with CAC approval, and one of fewer than 100 coins believed extant in all grades. Another important bidding opportunity for advanced Liberty Head eagle specialists from the Fairmont Collection's outstanding JBR Set.
PCGS# 8650. NGC ID: 264K.
PCGS Population: 3; 0 finer. The corresponding NGC Census is also 3/0. CAC Population: 1; 0.
From the Fairmont Collection - JBR Set.