1866-S $5 Motto (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Head $5 1839-1908

PCGS AU55

PCGS AU53

PCGS XF40

PCGS #:: 8312

Designer:: Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 21.65 millimeters

Weight:: 8.36 grams

Mintage:: 34,920

Mint:: San Francisco

Metal:: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $22,425 • MS61 • 05-28-2008 • Heritage Auctions

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (1)

Major Varieties

1866-S $5 Motto

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Price Guide (USD)

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

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Current Auctions - NGC Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - NGC Graded

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	80	R-8.2	10 / 106 TIE	34 / 218 TIE
60 or Better	0	R-10.1	1 / 106	1 / 218
65 or Better	0	R-10.1	1 / 106	1 / 218

Survival Estimate
All Grades	80
60 or Better
65 or Better

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-8.2
60 or Better	R-10.1
65 or Better	R-10.1

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	10 / 106 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 106
65 or Better	1 / 106

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	34 / 218 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 218
65 or Better	1 / 218

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Image	Pedigree and History
1	AU58 PCGS grade
1	AU58 PCGS grade
1	AU58 PCGS grade
4	AU58 estimated grade
5	AU53 PCGS grade
5	AU53 estimated grade
5	AU53 estimated grade
5	AU53 estimated grade
5	AU53 estimated grade
10	AU50 PCGS grade

#1 AU58 PCGS grade

#4 AU58 estimated grade

#5 AU53 PCGS grade

#5 AU53 estimated grade

#10 AU50 PCGS grade

David Akers (1975/88):

The mintage of the 1866-S Motto is much greater than that of the 1866-S No Motto, but the auction data correctly shows that the two are very similar in overall rarity, although the No Motto coin is even more difficult to locate in high grade. Only one or two uncirculated examples of this issue are known and most specimens are VF or worse. The mintmark is very small and invariably weak and on the typical badly worn specimen it is sometimes barely visible.