1913-S

San Francisco's 1913 double eagle output of 34,000 pieces ranks as the third-lowest mintage in the entire Saint-Gaudens series, trailing only the 1907 High Relief and the 1908-S among regular-issue dates. The S mint mark appears above the date on the obverse. 1913-S carries the second year of the 48-star obverse that was introduced in 1912 after New Mexico and Arizona statehood. Production levels at San Francisco varied substantially year-to-year during this period; the 1913-S figure reflects bullion allocation decisions that concentrated the Mint's 1913 double eagle work at Denver and Philadelphia rather than San Francisco. Surviving examples number in the range of 700 to 1,000 coins across all grades by standard estimates, weighted heavily toward circulated grades where most of the issue spent decades in active commerce before the 1933 recall.

Strike quality on 1913-S is generally competent for a San Francisco Motto-era issue: central detail on Liberty and the eagle comes up on most examples, though some pieces show softness in the torch flame or in the lower-arc stars of the 48-star obverse. Wear on circulated coins follows the series pattern, with Liberty's forward knee and breast and the eagle's breast and leading wing first to show friction. Grade distribution for the issue skews heavily toward VF and AU examples, with lower Mint State grades (MS60 through MS63) the next most frequently encountered tier. MS64 and finer are genuinely scarce; MS65 examples are specialist-grade acquisitions that rarely appear outside major auctions. Counterfeit exposure is meaningful for this issue given the coin's unit value relative to bullion; PCGS or NGC certification is the standard acquisition path, not optional.

Market position for 1913-S places it as a solid semi-key in the Saint-Gaudens series, a step below the genuine key dates like 1908-S and 1909-D but clearly above the common-date Saint-Gaudens tier. Pricing carries a meaningful premium at every grade level, with even VF and EF examples trading in the mid four figures and AU coins reaching the high four figures. Mint State pricing starts at a distinct step above common-grade levels and widens through MS64, where certified examples have consistently traded in the five-figure territory. MS65 and finer clear well into five figures. Collector demand comes primarily from date-and-mint set builders, who must acquire an example for completion purposes, and from specialists in pre-WWI Saint-Gaudens production. Acquisition is certified only. For the broader context of S-mint production patterns during the pre-WWI era, see the St. Gaudens Gold $20 Double Eagles history article.