Probable Finest Known 1873-S Eagle Recently Discovered In Europe

Stack's Bowers - Every once in a while, a previously unknown cache of coins that yields a new discovery surprises the numismatic market. Sometimes a new variety or date in a series is uncovered or the census of known examples and their grades is revised. The latter is the case for this 1873-S eagle, found in Europe in March, and now the finest certified example and quite possibly is the finest known.



The 1873-S $10 gold piece is scarce with only 12,000 examples struck for circulation, as the coiner's attention was focused on striking double eagles. Like most gold coins struck in the western branch mints, most of these slipped into commerce and became worn. This is an ultimate condition rarity, with the Uncirculated population consisting of only this newly discovered example at the MS-62 level, and a single example graded MS-61. That MS-61 has an extensive pedigree going back to our 1986 sale of the Carter Collection, eventually finding its way to the Harry W. Bass Collection, and last sold publicly in 2000.

Read the Entire Article