Philadelphia and San Francisco gold coins from the Civil War reconstruction era (1866-1878)
1871 $10

Owner Comments:

Business strike production of Eagles dipped to just 1,790 pieces at the Philadelphia Mint in 1871--one of the lowest total in the entire long-lived Liberty series. This is an understandably rare coin at all levels of preservation, and survivors are typically confined to VF and lower grades. A lone PCGS MS-60 represents the entire extant population of the 1871 in Mint State. All but unsurpassable in technical quality for an example of this extremely challenging issue, this near-Mint survivor would serve as a highlight in any advanced collection. Rich, deeply set, honey-gold color warms to more of a rose-gold cast when the surfaces dip into a light. There is only minimal highpoint rub and light friction in the fields, with the result that both sides retain sharp striking detail and nearly complete satin luster. Scattered abrasions are mostly commensurate with the grade, although a thin graze in the upper-left obverse field is perhaps worthy of attention. Highly desirable, nonetheless, and a definite highlight of the gold offerings in this sale.