1856-S $20.00 PCGS AU55

Secure Plus. This non-shipwreck example has very clean surfaces with far fewer marks than usual for the issue. The color is original and attractive with medium orange-gold accented by rose splashes in the recessed areas. You rarely see nice circulated 1856-S double eagles with original surfaces and this example is one of the best AU55's that I have handled in a number of months.

1856-S $20.00 PCGS AU50 CAC Gold Sticker, OGH

Old Green Holder. CAC Gold Sticker. By today's standards, this piece grades at least AU55 if not AU58. A choice, original example and clearly not a seawater coin as it was encapsulated prior to the discovery of the S.S. Central America hoard. Satiny with light rose and orange-gold coloration gives this coin good eye appeal and the surfaces are very clean for the issue.

CAC has approved two in AU50 with seventeen finer. There population report does not designate how many have received gold stickers but I would assume the number is very small.

1856-S $2.50 NGC MS61, ex-Eliasberg

With the 1854-S being priced out of the reach of most collectors, the 1856-S is, for all intents and purposes, the earliest date quarter eagle that is available from this mint. The 1856-S is common in lower grades and only marginally scarce in the higher AU range but it is very scarce in Uncirculated and nearly unavailable higher than MS61 to MS62. This well struck example has nice frosty luster and an even, pale green-gold color. There are a few minor scuffs in the fields that are consistent with the grade but no trace of rub can be found on the high spots. My best guess is that there are around ten properly graded Uncirculated 1856-S and the PCGS/NGC populations are severely inflated by resubmissions. An interesting, numismatically significant coin made all the more desirable by its unbeatable pedigree.

Ex Scotsman 10/08: 801 ($4,600), Bowers and Ruddy 10/82: 179 ($550), Eliasberg collection.

1856-S $20.00 NGC AU53 CAC

This wholesome, original example shows no signs of seawater surface and has nice natural coloration on the obverse and reverse. There are just a few too many marks to grade this AU55 but it has better overall eye appeal than other pieces that I have seen in 55 holders.

CAC has approved two examples in this grade with sixteen finer.

1856-S $3.00 PCGS AU58

Medium S mintmark. This is the variety with recutting at the top right of the mintmark and a crack forming at the left foot of the second L in DOLLARS. The 1856-S is the most available of the San Francisco Three Dollar gold pieces but it is scarce in properly graded AU58 and very rare in Uncirculated. This frosty slider has a considerable amount of luster on the surfaces and just a slight amount of friction on the cheek and hair. A few ticks can be seen on the surfaces but this piece is much cleaner than usual for the date and it represents one of the nicer 1856-S Threes that I have seen or handled in the last few years. The last PCGS AU58 example of this date to trade at auction was Heritage 1/12: 6264 that brought $6,900.

1856-S $1.00 PCGS AU50

The 1856-S is the only Type Two gold dollar from the San Francisco and it is one of four one-year types of this design (along with the 1855-C, 1855-D and 1855-O). The 1856-S is not an especially rare issue but it is popular and very hard to find with original color and surfaces. This piece has lovely natural green-gold and orange hues on the obverse and reverse and it is nicer than most 1856-S dollars that I see offered for sale in AU55 holders. This is the variety with the crazily doubled mintmark on the reverse (it is common but extremely cool) and there is a massive obverse crack from the throat down into the left field.

1856-S $10.00 PCGS AU50

Medium S mintmark. A fresh European example recently graded by PCGS in their Paris office and notable for strong luster, light even wear and nominally abraded surfaces. Not really a rare coin in this grade but a pleasing, wholesome piece which is desirable as an affordable early SF mint eagle.