The 1874-S Double Eagle is usually lumped together with the 1875-S and the 1876-S when measuring the degree of rarity. However, the 1874-S is a substantially scarcer coin both in terms of overall rarity and premium quality rarity. 

This is not an issue which can be easily located with a good quality of strike. The hair of Liberty is very poorly defined with little detail noted on the bun and the uppermost curls. The stars are often seen with poorly defined radial lines and they are sometimes much weaker on the right side of the obverse than on the left side. The reverse comes with a better strike, but the shield is nearly always weak. 

Eye Appeal and Surface Quality in the 1874-S Double Eagle

Many 1874-S Double Eagles are very heavily abraded. The obverse fields may show very deep, clustered marks while the reverse is often heavily bagmarked. The luster on 1874-S Double Eagles ranges from very frosty to a slightly grainy satiny texture. Uncleaned specimens show coloration ranging from rose-green to orange- gold. This is yet another Type Two Double Eagle which is difficult to locate with good eye appeal. Pieces which are very attractive trade for strong premiums.