1898-S Barber Quarter. MS-66 (PCGS). This lovely Gem features intense satin to softly frosted luster and vivid iridescent toning. Champagne-apricot patina yields to pinkish-lilac and cobalt blue over the left third of the obverse. Both sides are fully struck with surfaces that border on pristine. One of the scarcer early San Francisco Mint Barber quarters, the 1898-S is particularly elusive in Choice AU and Mint State grades. The present example is an exceedingly rare premium Gem Uncirculated survivor from a mintage of 1,020,592 coins, the vast majority of which succumbed to the heavy commercial use. Remarkable!
