Only 9,000 eagles were made at the San Francisco mint in 1867 and this is an even rarer issue than most people realize with around 60-70 known. When available, the typical 1867-S eagle is in the VF30-EF40 range and properly graded EF45′s are rare. This date is unknown in Uncirculated and the finest I have seen, Stacks Bowers 2/12: 4336, graded AU55 by PCGS, brought a strong $23,000.

This russet and green gold example shows subdued luster atop uncommonly mark-free surfaces. The typical 1867-S eagle is very bright and very abraded with negative overall eye appeal. This piece has an appearance that most sophisticated collectors will find pleasing and the only mark meriting description is a shallow diagonal cut on the cheek of Liberty.

The last PCGS EF45 1867-S to sell at auction was Heritage 1/06: 5432, which brought $6,038 in a market which did not show much interest in better date Liberty Head eagles. An NGC EF45 brought $8,688 in the Heritage 2009 CSNS sale.

This is the first 1867-S eagle which I have handled in over three years and I regard this as one of the tougher dates to find in the entire Liberty Head eagle series.