1874-S Liberty Head Half Eagle. Weak S. AU-53 (PCGS).
An uncommonly well defined, vivid reddish-gold and deep orange example of a Frontier era gold issue that is seldom offered in any grade. Most design elements are sharply rendered, in fact, and ample luster remains to further confirm a short stint in active commerce. The S mintmark is faint, as the PCGS attribution confirms, but it is appreciable even to the unaided eye. Highly elusive in numismatic circles, the 1874-S half eagle has a limited mintage of 16,000 coins, most of which were worn out and eventually lost in circulation on the West Coast. When we further consider that this is one of a select group of U.S. Mint issues that are currently unknown in Mint State, the significance of this PCGS-certified AU can hardly be denied.
PCGS# 98335. NGC ID: 25WS.
PCGS Population (Weak S attribution only): 2; with a single AU-55 finer.
From our Baltimore Auction of November 2021, lot 3294.