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1857-S
| Weight | 1.672 g |
| Diameter | 15 mm |
| Mint | San Francisco |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 10,000 |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 90% Gold, 10% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James B. Longacre |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-5262 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
San Francisco struck 10,000 gold dollars in 1857, a modest output from the facility that had opened just three years earlier. The San Francisco Mint processed enormous quantities of California gold, but the gold dollar was a minor denomination for a mint focused primarily on double eagles and other large gold coins. The 10,000-coin mintage reflects the low priority the denomination held at a facility designed to handle the Gold Rush's massive bullion output.
The 1857-S is one of the scarcer San Francisco gold dollars. PCGS estimates roughly 75 to 125 survive across all grades. Most grade between Fine and Extremely Fine, and Uncirculated examples are genuinely scarce. The "S" mintmark on the reverse identifies the coin. Strike quality is generally better than Charlotte or Dahlonega production, reflecting San Francisco's newer equipment and experienced staff.
San Francisco gold dollars carry appeal for collectors interested in California Gold Rush coinage. The denomination may have been a small part of the mint's operation, but each coin represents gold pulled from California's legendary deposits and converted into the smallest denomination of federal gold coinage.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | — | — |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | — | — |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | — | — |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $475 | $550 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $725 | $840 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $1,260 | $1,450 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $4,520 | $5,215 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $23,130 | $24,490 |
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How many 1857-S Indian Princess (Large Head) Gold Dollars were minted?
What is a 1857-S Indian Princess (Large Head) Gold Dollar made of?
What is the melt value of a 1857-S Indian Princess (Large Head) Gold Dollar?
Is the 1857-S Indian Princess (Large Head) Gold Dollar a key date?
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