The 1888-S is one of the most common San Francisco double eagles produced during the 1880s.

Expert’s Corner: 1888-S Double Eagle

For the collector who would like to own an early date S mint double eagle in very high grade (MS64), the 1888-S is probably the best choice. It is one of the very few San Francisco double eagles from the 1880s which can occasionally be found in this grade.

This is a well-produced issue that tends to show better detail than many of the other San
Francisco issues from this decade. Both the obverse and the reverse show complete or near-complete detail at the centers and borders. The surfaces on most 1888-S double eagles are abraded, but not as much as the San Francisco issues from earlier in this decade. The luster is excellent and is often a very frosty texture. The coloration on uncleaned pieces can be very rich, with deep rose-gold or orange-gold hues. The level of eye appeal is above average. This means that with a little patience, the collector should be able to find a very presentable example of this date for his set.