1901-S $10 Liberty Head Eagle NGC MS-65 CAC

CAC. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, the 1901-S Liberty Head eagle is among the most plentiful issues in the ten-dollar gold series, yet high-grade examples still carry considerable appeal. This Gem specimen graded MS-65 by NGC shows the crisp detail and satiny luster that collectors expect from the best-preserved survivors of the type. NGC has certified 1,341 examples at this level with 301 graded finer, while CAC has approved 188 in MS65 with just 66 higher. As noted by David Hall, the 1901-S is widely believed to have an enormous surviving population, with estimates reaching as high as 200,000 pieces. Remarkably, the vast majority of those coins are thought to be uncirculated, an unusual circumstance for a gold coin of the era. Their preservation owes much to their role in international finance. Many examples were reportedly stored in European vaults and later entered the numismatic market when large quantities emerged from Swiss banks during the 1960s and 1970s, a time when Switzerland functioned as a major center for global bullion trading.