The 1866-S No Motto eagle is a numismatically important coin which is both a transitional issue (varieties of 1866-S are known with and without the motto) and it is the final year of issue for the No Motto Liberty Head eagle. There are likely no more than 50 known from an original mintage of just 8,500 and this is one of the rarest gold coins ever produced at the San Francisco mint. Survivors are most often seen in the VF-EF range and AU’s are extremely rare. The extensive Bentley holdings didn’t include an example of the 1866-S No Motto $10.00.

This is only the third example I have handled in close to five years and it is probably the most cosmetic with pleasing medium orange-gold color and some dirt specks seen scattered throughout the protected areas. The wear is even with good balance between the obverse and the reverse; weakness at the borders (especially on the stars) is diagnostic to the issue. The surfaces are far cleaner than normal and lack the dense abrasions seen on a majority of the survivors.

No PCGS EF40 example has ever sold at auction and no “straight grade” EF40 has been sold since an NGC coin was auctioned all the way back in July 2002. A PCGS EF45 sold for $14,950 as 2011 ANA: 9572 and it was not as fresh or original as the present coin. A CAC approved PCGS VF30 brought $9,400 in the 2013 FUN sale (Lot 7349) and this attests to the strong demand for this variety.

If you are a serious collector of San Francisco eagles, you know just how rare this coin is and how significant this offering is.

THIS COIN HAS NOT BEEN SENT TO CAC BY ME.