1905-S $20 MS64 Certification #13089533, PCGS #9048

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

David Akers (1975/88)

For years, most collectors and dealers have used mintage figures as their principal guide in determining the rarity of a particular coin. (PCGS CoinFacts editors note: remember, David Akers was writing this in 1982, before PCGS and population reports. But his comments were very accurate for the time and very interesting for us today.) However, as I have stated many times, mintage figures can be very misleading, and the 1905-S is a perfect example of this fact. With a mintage of 1.8 million pieces, the 1905-S should be quite common, even in Unc. Wrong! Choice mint state pieces are very scarce and I have seen no more than a couple of true gems.

PCGS #

9048

Designer

James Barton Longacre

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

34.00 millimeters

Weight

33.40 grams

Mintage

1813000

Metal

90% Gold, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

2539

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	9750	R-3.0	39 / 73	112 / 148
All Grades	4000	R-4.2	45 / 73 TIE	115 / 148 TIE
60 or Better	12	R-9.5	21 / 73 TIE	31 / 148 TIE

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	9750
All Grades	4000
60 or Better	12

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-3.0
All Grades	R-4.2
60 or Better	R-9.5

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	39 / 73
All Grades	45 / 73 TIE
60 or Better	21 / 73 TIE

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	112 / 148
All Grades	115 / 148 TIE
60 or Better	31 / 148 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Thumbnail	Pedigree and History
1	MS67 PCGS grade
2	MS65 PCGS grade
2	MS65 PCGS grade
2	MS65 PCGS grade
2	MS65 PCGS grade

#1 MS67 PCGS grade

#2 MS65 PCGS grade