PCGS No: 8690

Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 506,250
Proofs: 0

Designer: Christian Gobrecht

Diameter: ±26.8 millimeters

Metal content:
Gold - 90%
Other - 10% 

Weight: ±258 grains (±16.7 grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: "S" (for San Francisco, California) below the eagle on the reverse

Images courtesy of Ron Guth

Notes:
The 1880-S Eagle is part of a long series of $10 gold pieces first created in 1838 by Christian Gobrecht.  It's mintage of 506,250 pieces ranks among the highest of the series, yet Uncirculated examples are still surprisingly difficult to locate.  Most examples are heavily bagmarked, thus very few Choice Uncirculated (or better) examples are known.  MS-64 examples are extremely rare and a true Gem has yet to make an appearance.  The San Francisco Mint struck Liberty Head $10 Eagles almost every year from 1854 to 1907, inclusive.

The finest examples graded by PCGS are 4 MS-64's.

Significant examples:
PCGS MS-64 (illustrated above).  Offered at the October 2001 Long Beach Coin & Collectibles Exposition by Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries for $8,000.00

Recent appearances:
PCGS MS-62.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 7350, not illustrated, sold for $632.50

PCGS AU-55.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 7349, not illustrated, not sold

VF-30.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 1495, not illustrated, sold for $184.00

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The Professional Coin Grading Service