The 1854-S is numismatically significant as the first Liberty Head eagle made at the San Francisco mint. Unlike the excessively rare quarter eagles and half eagles dated 1854-S, the eagle is readily available. It is common in grades up to AU50/53 but properly graded AU58 are very scarce and this issue is extremely rare in Uncirculated with just three or four currently known.

This gem slider is among the nicer 1854-S eagles which I have handled. It shows just the slightest amount of rub on the obverse high spots and some minor luster breaks in the fields. The color is a pleasing soft orange-gold and the surfaces are far cleaner than normal for the issue with just a few small ticks. The great majority of 1854-S eagles graded AU58 by the two services are highly overgraded and this accurately graded piece has uncommon eye appeal for the date and grade.

Since 2002, there have been no fewer than 26 auction records for the 1854-S eagle in NGC AU58. During this same period, only two PCGS AU58′s have been auctioned and the last of these was in January 2007. No CAC approved AU58 has ever been sold at auction.

With Uncirculated examples essentially unavailable, this coin represents probably the best available quality for the issue. An important coin for the sophisticated Liberty Head eagle collector.

CAC has approved five in this grade with only one finer (MS61).