Only seven gold dollars were made at the San Francisco mint, but no less than three design types are represented; this includes two one-year types. The three types are as follows:

Type One: 1854 only
Type Two: 1856 only
Type Three: 1857 through 1860 and 1870

This is a popular set with collectors given the fact that it is short and completable. Lower budget sets can be assembled with the coins in the EF-AU, range while collectors with larger budgets can focus on Uncirculated sets with the coins grading MS62 to MS65.

1854-S

Total Minted: 14,632

Estimated Survivors: 250-350+

Rarity Ranking: 6th of 7

The 1854-S is doubly popular as the first gold dollar made at the newly opened San Francisco mint and as a one-year type.

This is a very well-made issue which typically is seen with an excellent strike, good luster, and choice planchets. The natural color is a rich orange-gold with rose undertones while the luster is very frosty.

It is likely that 1854-S gold dollars were saved as souvenirs and this date is more plentiful in Uncirculated than one might expect. There are at least four to five dozen in Uncirculated with most of these in the MS60 to MS63 range. I believe that there are around six or seven properly graded MS64s, and I am aware of just one Gem, a PCGS/CAC MS65+ which was last sold as part of the Duckor Collection in the 2015 Heritage ANA auction at a record-setting $56,400

Lower budget sets should focus on a nice AU which is available for less than $2,000. Higher budget sets might focus on an MS64 which should cost in the $12,500-15,000 range; these are rare but are generally offered for sale around once every year or so.

1856-S

Total Minted: 24,600

Estimated Survivors: 300-400+

Rarity Ranking: 7th of 7

The 1856-S is another numismatically significant gold dollar from San Francisco as it is the only Type Two issue from this facility.

This issue is not quite as well-struck as the 1854-S, but it is better produced than the Southern Type Two gold dollars (especially the 1855-C and the 1855-D) which are typically characterized by very negative eye appeal. The natural color is a deep green-gold but higher grade pieces are more likely to show rich rose-gold and orange hues. The luster is slightly grainy in texture.

There were at least 18 Uncirculated 1856-S gold dollars found in the second salvage of the S.S. Central America including a small number of Gems. Prior to this, the finest known was a PCGS/CAC MS64 from the Duckor Collection which sold for $44,650.

Collectors should not pay a premium for the 1856-S/S variety which is actually more common than the normal mintmark. It has a low population but this is due to its new acceptance by PCGS as a variety.

Lower budget sets should focus on a nice AU which is available for $3,000 or so. Higher budget sets might focus on an MS62 which will cost around $15,000-17,500. High grade SSCA 1856-S gold dollars have trickled into the market and a PCGS/CAC MS64+ just brought a strong $88,125 as Legend 5/19: 482.

1857-S

Total Minted: 10,000

Estimated Survivors: 150-175

Rarity Ranking: 2nd of 7

The 1857-S introduces the five Type Three gold dollars from San Francisco. It is the second rarest in overall rarity (after the 1870-S) but it is the rarest in Uncirculated. This is a legitimately rare issue in high grades with fewer than 10 known in Mint State, and nearly all in the lower range of this grade. The finest graded is a single PCGS MS64 and the best I have ever seen is the Bass 2: 121 coin, graded MS63, that brought $16,100 in October 1999.

The strike is reasonably sharp although many pieces show some weakness on the 85 in the date while others are weak on the ICA in AMERICA. Very few exist with original color and such coins command significant premiums.

This date is much undervalued in nice AU grades with examples available for less than $2,000. Higher grade sets will find the 1857-S to be challenging, and I haven’t seen a nice PCGS graded Uncirculated piece in a number of years.

1858-S

Total Minted: 10,000

Estimated Survivors: 175-200

Rarity Ranking: 3rd of 7

The 1858-S has the exact same mintage figure as the 1857-S but it is slightly more available in terms of overall rarity. It is also a very rare issue in Uncirculated with fewer than 10 currently known. There is a single Gem known (graded MS65 by PCGS/CAC) which is in the Simpson Collection and the Duckor coin, graded MS64 by PCGS/CAC is the second finest.

The 1858-S dollar typically has some weakness in the hair but the overall strike is above-average. Higher grade pieces are very frosty with rich yellow-gold and orange color. This date is not often seen with original color and choice surfaces but it is slightly easier to locate choice than the 1857-S.

As with the 1857-S, the 1858-S gold dollar is highly undervalued in nice AU grades and a very presentable example can still be located for $2,000 or less. Higher grade examples are offered at a rate of maybe one or two per year, and a PCGS MS61 will cost around $5,000 while an MS62 will run around $8,000-9,000.

1859-S

Total Minted: 10,000

Estimated Survivors: 200-250

Rarity Ranking: 4th of 7

This is the third consecutive San Francisco gold dollar with a mintage of 10,000. The 1859-S is slightly more available than the 1857-S and the 1858-S but it is also rare in Uncirculated. Fewer than a dozen Mint State pieces are currently known with most in the MS60 to MS62 range. I have personally handled just one in MS63, and the finest I am aware of is a PCGS MS64 which brought $17,000 in the March 2005 ANR sale.

The strike tends to be a little weaker than on the previous two issues and there is sometimes blurriness on the OLL in DOLLAR. The tops of some of the letters in AMERICA may show weakness as well. The natural color is a rich orange-gold hue and only a small number of 1859-S dollars have not been scrubbed or altered. The luster is frosty with a slightly different texture than that seen on the 1857-S or the 1858-S.

A nice AU can still be located for under $2,000 which I feel is excellent value given the scarcity of this issue. The best available quality caps out at around MS62 and—if available—such a coin should cost around $7,500.

1860-S

Total Minted: 13,000

Estimated Survivors: 225-275

Rarity Ranking: 5th of 7

The 1860-S is slightly more available than the 1857-S, 1858-S, and 1859-S gold dollars. In Uncirculated it is very scarce but as many as 15-20 exist, making it more available than the previous three issues. It is also more available in MS63 and MS64 than these three issues, which are essentially non-existent. The finest known is a single PCGS/CAC MS65 which I sold privately to Steve Duckor in late 2013, and which later sold for $31,725 as Heritage 2015 ANA: 4260

This issue tends to be well-struck although some show weakness on the top of the 8 in the date and the O in DOLLAR. The luster is very frosty and is more similar to that seen on the 1859-S than on the 1857-S and the 1858-S. Original high grade pieces (of which not many are known) show rich orange-gold, rose and green-gold hues.

Nice AU 1860-S gold dollars are extremely affordable with examples still trading for less than $1,500. An MS62 can be obtained for less than $4,000 and even an MS63 still sells for around $5,000. I regard these all are exceptional values, even when compared to the other Type Three San Francisco gold dollars.

1870-S

Total Minted: 3,000

Estimated Survivors: 125-150

Rarity Ranking: 1st of 7

The grade distribution of this date is entirely different than for the other Type Three San Francisco gold dollars. The 1870-S saw little circulation and very few examples exist below AU55. The grade range seen most often is MS61 to MS63 with MS64 examples being rare, and Gems being extremely rare. PCGS has graded a single coin MS66; it didn’t sell in a 2002 auction and it hasn’t been seen since. Two Gems have sold in recent years: the Duckor coin—graded MS65 by PCGS/CAC--which brought $37,600 in 2015 and the Simpson coin—graded MS65+ by PCGS/CAC—which brought $42,300 later in 2015.

The 1870-S is a very well-struck issue which is fully defined at the centers and the borders. The color tends to be reddish-gold or orange-gold but many coins are bright and lack character from having been dipped. The luster is somewhat reflective with a much different texture than those seen on the other Type Three issues from this mint. Many 1870-S gold dollars show die striations on the reverse which are mint-made.

Affordable examples are actually hard to locate due to the fact that this date is the rarest San Francisco gold dollar and, as I mentioned, it is almost never seen below AU55. A nice slider should cost around $3,000 while a higher grade collection would likely focus on an MS63 at around $7,000 or an MS64 at around $12,000.

The short-lived San Francisco gold dollar set is very completable and it is interesting due to its inclusion of three distinct types. It makes for a good introduction to San Francisco gold coinage.