1854-S Liberty Eagle. MS-60 (ICG).;A truly handsome example of this extreme condition rarity in the San Francisco Eagle series. The complexion is dominated by rich medium-gold tones and the most subtle pinkish accents scattered about. The strike is uniform and bold, with some minor definition lost to lapping across the obverse. Satiny luster remains bountiful and distributed across virtually every region, as evidence of true friction is minimal throughout. A thin scratch lays horizontally in the left obverse field below Libertys chin, though this does little to distract the naked eye. Scrutiny will also reveal a pair of blemishes at 12 and 6 oclock on the reverse border each of a similar texture. This attractive rarity is surely an important opportunity for enthusiasts of western gold.<p>1854 represents the first year of eagle production at the San Francisco Mint, where a sizeable quantity of 123,826 coins was struck. It would not be until 1879 that a U.S. Mint would once again strike eagles to a greater quantity and, as a result, the 1854-S issue remains relatively available overall in todays market. However, Uncirculated example are incredibly rare, as the vast majority of this mintage was subject to extensive circulation through the American West. PCGS and NGC have a combined population of just 12 Mint State examples topping out at MS-62, those figures being undoubtedly inflated by resubmissions. The experts at <em>PCGS CoinFacts</em> suggest that as few as 4 distinct Mint State examples remain, emphasizing the significance of the present piece.