1910-S

The 1910-S stands as the most accessible San Francisco issue from the early With Motto era of the Indian Head Eagle series. Its mintage of 811,000 pieces dwarfs the figures recorded for the 1908-S (59,850) and 1909-S (292,350), making this date roughly fourteen times more available than its 1908-S predecessor and nearly three times more available than the 1909-S. Collectors assembling a date-and-mintmark set typically locate the 1910-S well before the two semi-keys that anchor the early S-mint cluster, and the issue is regarded as the workhorse San Francisco date of the period rather than a rarity in absolute terms.

Production quality at the San Francisco facility improved noticeably between 1909 and 1910, and the 1910-S is generally considered better struck than the granular 1909-S. Even so, the typical example carries familiar S-mint softness on Liberty's bonnet feathers and on the breast plumage of the eagle. Surfaces tend toward a frosty or slightly satin texture, with medium yellow-gold coloration occasionally accented by orange or rose iridescence on choice pieces. Authentication generally focuses on confirming the starred edge with its 46 raised stars, and on weight and diameter consistency. Population data shows the issue is reasonably available through MS62 and MS63, scarce in MS64, and a genuine condition rarity at MS65 and finer, with PCGS reporting only a handful of coins combined in those top grades.

Market activity for the 1910-S concentrates in the AU and lower Mint State range, where pricing tracks with bullion-driven type demand and modest premiums for original surfaces. Choice MS63 examples trade on a recurring basis, while MS64 coins command significant numerical jumps as bidders compete for the few certified pieces available. Heritage Auctions has handled an MS64+ PCGS CAC example that realized $38,400, illustrating the premium attached to high-end coins for the date. Buyers focused on luster, strike sharpness, and absence of distracting marks usually find the 1910-S a satisfying entry point into San Francisco production, with the comparative scarcity of the 1908-S and 1909-S explored in the broader Indian Head Eagle series history.