1909-S $10 MS61 Certification #39190719, PCGS #8864

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

David Akers (1975/88)

Most of the Uncirculated examples that are known of this issue come from a single hoard that was discovered in the late 1970s. The pieces from that group are generally well struck with above average lustre and attractive greenish gold and rose color. Other examples I have seen that were not from the hoard were similar in color, but I have also seen a few that were rich yellow gold as well as some others with a light coppery gold color. The surfaces are either very frosty with very little granularity, or slightly satiny. The Eliasberg coin had a widely double punched mintmark but I have not seen any others with this characteristic.

Most of the coins in the hoard of 50 to 60 pieces graded from MS-60 to 63. Only a very few even reached the MS-64 level and I do not believe any of then would grade a full MS-65 by today's standards. (Kruthoffer's was perhaps the best piece from the hoard and it may well meet the current standards for MS-65 but it is more likely a high end MS-64 today.) The three finest 1909-S eagles that I am aware of are the Eliasberg coin now owned by Dr. Thaine Price, the one currently owned by Robert Kruthoffer, Jr., and the Norweb specimen. All three pieces were reportedly obtained directly from the Mint, are entirely free of bagmarks and grade MS-65+ or higher. The handful of other gems around are not even close to these three pieces in overall quality.

PCGS #

8864

Designer

Augustus Saint Gaudens

Edge

Raised Stars

Diameter

26.80 millimeters

Weight

16.70 grams

Mintage

292350

Metal

90% Gold, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

370

Pop Lower

842

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	2250	R-4.5	9 / 27 TIE	11 / 32 TIE
All Grades	450	R-6.1	8 / 27 TIE	10 / 32 TIE
60 or Better	42	R-8.6	13 / 27	15 / 32

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	2250
All Grades	450
60 or Better	42

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-4.5
All Grades	R-6.1
60 or Better	R-8.6

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	9 / 27 TIE
All Grades	8 / 27 TIE
60 or Better	13 / 27

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	11 / 32 TIE
All Grades	10 / 32 TIE
60 or Better	15 / 32

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS67+ PCGS grade	Bentley Shores Collection - Stack’s/Bowers 8/2013:4541, $64,625 - G&J Lott Collection
2	MS67 PCGS grade	Kutasi Collection - Heritage 1/2007:3169, $63,250 - Jim O’Neal Collection - Heritage 1/2009:3510, $51,750
3	MS67 estimated grade
4	MS66+ PCGS grade	Bentley Shores Collection - Stack’s/Bowers 8/2013:4542, $55,812.50 - Crow River Collection
5	MS66 PCGS grade

#1 MS67+ PCGS grade

Bentley Shores Collection - Stack’s/Bowers 8/2013:4541, $64,625 - G&J Lott Collection

#2 MS67 PCGS grade

Kutasi Collection - Heritage 1/2007:3169, $63,250 - Jim O’Neal Collection - Heritage 1/2009:3510, $51,750

#3 MS67 estimated grade

#4 MS66+ PCGS grade

Bentley Shores Collection - Stack’s/Bowers 8/2013:4542, $55,812.50 - Crow River Collection

#5 MS66 PCGS grade