1855-S $5 AU58+ Certification #41789767, PCGS #8265

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

First obtainable San Fransisco half eagle. Diagnostic (die chip?) at star 13 dentils is common to all 1855-S half eagles I've seen. Walter Breen in his monographs and encyclopedia suggests that multiple obverses exist with dates high or very high, however I haven't seen his " date placed very high, with tops of 5's weak, and 1 almost touching bust..." variety. The mint mark is located between the VE in FIVE although there appears to be slight differences in tilt and again from what I've seen this tilt difference is miniscule at most. Garrett and Guth in their "Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins" state, "The moderately high mintage of 61,000 coins fails to truly convey the rarity of the 1855-S half eagle. This issue saw extensive commercial usage and most of the surviving coins are heavily circulated or damaged."

Expert Comments

David Akers (1975/88)

The 1855-S is actually more rare than the 1855-C or 1855-D based on my survey of 337 sales dating back to 1921. I think, however, that I have seen a few more of this date than I have of those two and also more than I have of the 1855-O. However, almost all specimens I have seen were well worn, VF or EF being typical, and I can recall seeing only two uncs and three or four AU's.

PCGS #

8265

Designer

Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

21.65 millimeters

Weight

8.36 grams

Mintage

61000

Metal

90% Gold, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

139

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - 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.
65 or Better	135	R-7.6	43 / 112 TIE	71 / 218 TIE
All Grades	2	R-9.9	7 / 112 TIE	13 / 218 TIE
60 or Better	0	R-10.1	1 / 112	1 / 218

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.
65 or Better	135
All Grades	2
60 or Better	0

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.
65 or Better	R-7.6
All Grades	R-9.9
60 or Better	R-10.1

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.
65 or Better	43 / 112 TIE
All Grades	7 / 112 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 112

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.
65 or Better	71 / 218 TIE
All Grades	13 / 218 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 218

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS62 PCGS grade
2	MS61 PCGS grade
3	AU58 PCGS grade	Recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America
3	AU58 PCGS grade	Recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America
3	AU58 PCGS grade

#1 MS62 PCGS grade

#2 MS61 PCGS grade

#3 AU58 PCGS grade

Recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America

#3 AU58 PCGS grade

Recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America

#3 AU58 PCGS grade