CONDITIONALLY RARE PCGS/CAC MS63+

One would have assumed that this date would have been destroyed by an abundance of nice Uncs from the Fairmont Hoard. This was not the case as the best 1897-S eagles from this source were a small number of MS61 coins. In my experience, this date is comparable to the more highly acclaimed 1894-S, 1895-S, and 1896-S eagles once you reach the MS64 level, and I am personally aware of just a single Gem; a wonderful PCGS MS66 which is unseen since its 4/2006 sale at $51,750.

This coin faces up like a Gem as it exhibits soft, satiny luster below even totally natural light orange-gold color. A small vertical mark is located in front of Liberty’s neck and there is another small mark above the 89 in the date. There is also a mint-made grease stain on the lock of hair dangling from Liberty’s ear lobe as well as some hidden spots below the date; these are inside of the denticles and are not easily seen. In my opinion, this coin would not look out of place in an MS64 holder.

No CAC approved 1897-S $10 graded MS63+ or higher has ever sold at auction. No PCGS non-CAC coin graded MS63 has sold at auction since 4/2020 and a grand total of seven PCGS MS63s have sold at auction in the last 30 years.

An impressive example of this overlooked date and almost certifiably in the Condition Census for the issue.

CAC has approved this one coin in MS63/63+ with just one finer (MS64).

DWN collects sales tax when appropriate.