The 1898-S is the most common double eagle from the San Francisco Mint produced during the 19th century. It is one of the most common dates in the entire Type Three series. It does have a good rarity factor compared to the 1904 for a modest cost premium.

Expert’s Corner: 1898-S Double Eagle

This date is one of the 19th century double eagles which can be found in MS65 for a reasonable price. If you’d like to “spice up” your date set with a very high grade coin, this is one that is worth seeking out in MS65.

This is an extremely well-produced issue. It is often fully struck, although some may show weakness on the obverse stars. The surfaces are typically abraded but not as heavily as on other San Francisco double eagles of this era. Some show mint-made copper spots. The luster is excellent with the typical coin showing thick, frosty luster which imparts an impressive naked-eye appearance.