The 1883-S is a little less rare, both overall and in high grades, than the 1882-S. It is certainly the least interesting of the three double eagles dated 1883, but this is understandable due to the great rarity of the Philadelphia issue and the mystique of the Carson City piece.

Expert’s Corner: 1883-S Double Eagle

The 1883-S double eagle is a very good value in MS63 grade, as it doesn’t sell for a huge premium over dates that are far more common in these grades. If you are looking for an example, be patient and wait for one with fewer than usual marks in the obverse fields.

Well Struck Obverse, Common Surface Abrasions

This is a better struck issue than one might think. Most show a very good strike on the obverse with strong hair and star detail. The reverse sometimes shows a bit of weakness at the center, but the eagle’s wings are well defined. The surfaces almost always are very heavily abraded. For some reason, many 1883-S double eagles are spotted, but these do not impact the grade unless they are too heavy or poorly situated.