The 1908-S Indian Head Gold is popular due to its status as the first coin of this design to have been struck at the San Francisco Mint. It is one of the most aesthetically appealing in the series due to its excellent quality of manufacture.

The date was largely spared from circulation and it is the 18th most common in the series in Gem. Coins as high as MS68 can sometimes be purchased and there is a single, near-perfect MS69 example that NGC has graded. This lone 1908-S MS69 represents one of only two coins in the entire Indian Head Eagle series to ever achieve that stellar level, the other being a single 1907 Wire Rim.

Strike Quality, Finishes, and Coloration of the 1908-S Eagle

The 1908-S nearly always comes sharply struck with incredible definition in the
headdress and in Liberty’s hair. Some examples exhibit a light softness at the highest areas of the eagle’s feathers on the reverse.

The coin is generally seen in two different finishes. One is extremely satiny while the other is fine and grainy. Both are popular with collectors. On satin finish examples the luster is extremely vibrant but on granular examples,
as would be expected, the luster is less vivid. 

The color differs between light orange-gold to greenish-gold or even deep coppery gold.