1864 $5

1865 $5

1864-S $5 (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Head $5 1839-1908

PCGS MS65+

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PCGS AU58

PCGS AU55

PCGS #:: 8297

Designer:: Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 21.65 millimeters

Weight:: 8.36 grams

Mintage:: 3,888

Mint:: San Francisco

Metal:: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $264,000 • AU58 • 04-13-2022 • Stack's Bowers

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (1)

Major Varieties

1864-S $5

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	32	R-8.8	7 / 112 TIE	8 / 218 TIE
60 or Better	2	R-9.9	7 / 112 TIE	13 / 218 TIE
65 or Better	1	R-10.0	1 / 112 TIE	1 / 218 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	32
60 or Better	2
65 or Better	1

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-8.8
60 or Better	R-9.9
65 or Better	R-10.0

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	7 / 112 TIE
60 or Better	7 / 112 TIE
65 or Better	1 / 112 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	8 / 218 TIE
60 or Better	13 / 218 TIE
65 or Better	1 / 218 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS65+ PCGS grade	Thomas Melish Collection - Kosoff 4/1956:2122 - Norweb Collection - Bowers & Merena 10/1987:875 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 10/1999:11150, $178,250
2	AU53 PCGS grade	Stanley Kesselman, sold privately in 4/1967 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 5/2000:500, $23,000
2	AU53 estimated grade
4	AU50 PCGS grade	E&M Collection
4	AU50 PCGS grade
4	AU50 PCGS grade
4	AU50 estimated grade
8	XF45 PCGS grade	Heritage 4/2014:5749, $44,062.50
8	XF45 estimated grade
10	XF40 PCGS grade

#1 MS65+ PCGS grade

Thomas Melish Collection - Kosoff 4/1956:2122 - Norweb Collection - Bowers & Merena 10/1987:875 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 10/1999:11150, $178,250

#2 AU53 PCGS grade

Stanley Kesselman, sold privately in 4/1967 - Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 5/2000:500, $23,000

#2 AU53 estimated grade

#4 AU50 PCGS grade

E&M Collection

#4 AU50 PCGS grade

#4 AU50 estimated grade

#8 XF45 PCGS grade

Heritage 4/2014:5749, $44,062.50

#8 XF45 estimated grade

#10 XF40 PCGS grade

David Akers (1975/88): The 1864-S is one of the real rarities of the entire series. Only one specimen better than EF has ever appeared at auction (an unc described as "a choice beauty" that brought $70 at the 1956 Melish Sale) and most of the relatively few known specimens grade Fine or VF.

David Hall:

The "unc" mentioned by David Akers in his 1979 book was subsequently sold in the Norweb Sale (Bowers and Merena, 1987) and then in the Harry Bass Sale (Bowers and Merena, 1999). It is graded MS65 by PCGS and it is the finest known by an incredible 10 points!