1910-S $10 AU55 Certification #28143733, PCGS #8867

David Akers (1975/88)

Despite its high mintage, the 1910-S is a very rare coin in all Mint State grades. Occasionally a specimen in MS-63 or less condition is available, but it is a highly unusual occurence when one better than that comes up for sale. In MS-64 condition, this issue is really very rare, and it is my opinion that only about six to eight true gems exist, is that many. There is also one piece, the Kruthoffer coin, that is distincly better than MS-65. I do not recall ever seeing another that was comparable. Along with the 1914-S, 1912-S, 1908-D No Motto and 1909-D, the 1910-S is really one of the unsung major rarities of this series in MS-64 or better condition.

Mint State specimens of this issue are usually very pretty. The lustre is nearly always very good to excellent and the color is typically a light to medium orange or coppery gold, although I have seen some beautiful light rose colored gold ones as well. Most specimens are well struck and the surfaces are usually finely granular. Frosty specimens are encountered the most, but some others definitely have satiny tendencies. In fact, the few really top grade examples of this issue that I have seen have all been much more satiny than frosty. Many, if not most, specimens have a weakness or roughness to the left of the date that affects the 19 especially (cf. the Kruthoffer specimen).