- PCGS #:
- 6965
- Designer:
- Christian Gobrecht
- Edge:
- Reeded
- Diameter:
- 38.10 millimeters
- Weight:
- 26.73 grams
- Mintage:
- 15
- Mint:
- San Francisco
- Metal:
- 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $1,092,500 • BU • 05-14-2003 • Stack's
Major Varieties
- 1870-S $1
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 12 |
| 60 or Better | 1 |
| 65 or Better | |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-9.5 |
| 60 or Better | R-10.0 |
| 65 or Better | R-10.1 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 15 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 15 |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 15 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 45 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 45 |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 45 |
Condition Census What Is This?
#1 MS62 PCGS grade
Probably Colonel E.H.R. Green - Morton and Joseph Stack - James A. Stack in 1944 - Stack's, 3/1995:212, $462,000 - L.K. Rudolph Collection - Stack's 5/2003:2136, $1,092,500 - Legend Collection of Mint State Seated Liberty Dollars |
#2 AU58 PCGS grade
H.O. Granberg Collection (ANS 1914 Exhibition Coin) - Waldo C. Newcomer Collection (cost $800) - B. Max Mehl - William H. Woodin Collection - Col. E.H.R. Green - B.G. Johnson - Stack's “Anderson-Dupont” 11/1954:2551, $4,000 - Art Kagin - Norweb Collection - Bowers & Merena 11/1988:3825, $126,500 - Jim Jesson Collection |
#3 AU53 PCGS grade
George Hall - Will Neil - Eliasberg - Stanford Coin - John Albanese
|
| #4 AU50 estimated grade |
| #5 XF45 estimated grade |
#6 XF40 PCGS grade
Compton collection, sold by M. H. Bolender - M. H. Bolender (purchased from his own sale) - Mr. and Mrs. Alfred J. Ostheimer III - Lester Merkin 9/1998:372 apparently bought in - Superior “Gilhousen” 10/1973:1339 - Superior 8/1975:1125 - Julian M. Leidman - House of Stuart (Gary Sturtridge) - Bowers & Ruddy 8/1978:1160 - James E. Pohrer - Kagin's 8/1983:2707 - Leon Hendrickson and Sal Fusco - advertised for sale by Phoenix Rare Coin Galleries in 7/1992 - Richmond Collection - David Lawrence 11/2004:1497, $414,000 - Jack Lee Collection - Heritage 11/2005:2226 - Joseph C. Thomas Collection - Heritage 4/2009:2581, $503,125 - Bowers & Merena 8/2010:1089, $632,500 - Usibelli Collection - Heritage 1/2014:5295, $763,750 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 5/2015:98571, $505,250 |
|
#7 VF30 estimated grade
Matthew Stickney, sold privately, likely to Colonel E.H.R. Green - James Kelly - Jack V. Roe - James Kelly - Clint Hestor or Charles M. Williams - Numismatic Gallery 11/1950:2181 - Abe Kosoff FPL 1955 - Fairbanks Collection of Ben Koenig - Stack's 10/1960:617 - Samuel Wolfson Collection - Stack's 5/1963:1431 - R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection - Stack’s 4/1969:1612, $19,000 - Stack's 9/1978:345, $39,000 - Queller Family Collection - Heritage 4/2008:2129, $805,000 - Heritage 1/2015:4173, $470,000 |
|
#8 VF25 PCGS grade
Norman Schultz 12/1935:1302 - B. Max Mehl - Egyptian King Farouk Collection - Sotheby's “Palace Collection” 2/1954:1676 - Arthur Conn and Harold Whiteneck's 1960:1168 - Kreisberg - Schulman 4/1967:1253 - Stack’s 3/1987:1203 - Stack's 10/2007:5294, $552,000 - Stack's/Bowers 3/2008:2035, $705,698 |
|
#9 G06 estimated grade
Tooled and re-engraved, Ex-Boyd - Bowers & Merena 11/2009:3086
|
The 1870-S Liberty Seated dollar is one of the most famous U.S. coin rarities. There are just 12 known survivors in all grades. The finest known, and the only mint state survivor, is the PCGS graded MS62 Col Green-James A. Stack-Legend collection specimen.
No official mint record was made about a number of 1870-S denominations, which are known today. The silver dollar and the unique half dime and the unique three dollar gold piece all fall into this group. There still is the strong possibility that the quarter of this issue was produced but is still not known to exist, but it should be noted that the half dime was not known to exist until 1978.
The James A. Stack specimen of the 1870-S Silver Dollar, a mint state 62 example, sold in 2003 by Stack’s for $1,092,500. This is the only verified coin in Uncirculated condition. Any 1870-S Silver Dollar no matter what its condition would likely bring six figures while the next time the finest known example is offered for sale it is likely to bring close to a middle seven figure dollar amount.
The 1870-S Silver Dollar is one of the most mysterious of all United States coins. It is one of the few instances where the Mint records give no indication that any were produced at all. Yet there are roughly a dozen examples whose very existence contradicts the official records. Most of the known examples are worn, indicating that mint employees produced a small run, and then placed the coins in circulation. Unfortunately, absent any direct evidence, no one can prove how many were made. However, the point is moot because the collector who seeks to complete a set of Silver Dollars has only the survivors from which to choose. In the case of the 1870-S Silver Dollar, the choices are few and far between.
1870-S Silver Dollars appear on the market an average of once every two years, but there have been periods as long as six years (for instance 1997-2003) when collectors have had zero opportunities to purchase an example.
In 2003, the finest known 1870-S Silver Dollar sold for over one million dollars and every example since then, with the exception of a damaged piece has brought close to or over half a million dollars.