1865/INV 186-S LIBERTY HEAD $10, 865/INVERTED 186 AU55

865/INVERTED 186. VERY CHOICE ALMOST UNCIRCULATED SPECIMEN OF THE $10 RARITY. JUST A SINGLE MS64 COIN GRADED HIGHER AT PCGS. This is a fascinating variety that actually represents a blunder on the part of an employee in the Philadelphia Mint's die engraving department. The engraver accidentally entered the date logotype into the die upside down and then corrected the error before the die was shipped West for use in the San Francisco Mint. Although the 1865-S, 865/Inverted 186 is actually more plentiful than the normal date 1865-S, examples enjoy stronger demand among collectors due to the visually dramatic nature of the blunder. In an absolute sense, of course, this variety is a significant rarity, particularly in grades at or above the EF level. Were it not for the discovery of two examples on board the S.S. Brother Jonathan and the S.S Republic , the 1865-S, 865/Inverted 186 would still be unknown in Mint State.