How to Find an 1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar

The 1870-S Seated Liberty dollar is one of American numismatics’ great mysteries: a coin the San Francisco Mint’s own official records say was never struck, yet roughly a dozen genuine examples are known to exist today. A search returning no results for this coin is the expected outcome, not a sign something is wrong.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, and lets you save a wishlist alert for coins that, realistically, may never appear in routine dealer inventory.

What makes the 1870-S Seated Liberty dollar important to collectors?

No official Mint record documents a silver dollar mintage at San Francisco for 1870. That absence puts the 1870-S in the company of a small handful of other 1870-S rarities—including a unique half dime and a unique three-dollar gold piece—that likewise have no recorded mintage but are known from surviving examples.

The leading explanation, documented in PCGS CoinFacts’s and the numismatic trade press’s research on the issue, is that a small, unofficial run of coins across several denominations was struck in secret to be placed in the cornerstone of the new San Francisco Mint building, which was under construction that year—essentially a numismatic time capsule rather than a coin intended for circulation or even for the Mint’s own official ledgers. Some researchers believe another 1870-S dollar may still remain sealed inside that cornerstone today, never recovered.

Roughly a dozen examples are documented to survive, ranging from well-worn circulated coins to a single unique mint-state specimen—by far the finest known, graded PCGS MS62 and pedigreed through the Col. Green, James A. Stack, and Legend collections, per PCGS CoinFacts’s pedigree notes for the issue. The coin wasn’t publicly displayed until 1914, when collector H.O. Granberg exhibited his example—an episode documented in numismatic trade-press accounts of the issue’s history, roughly forty-four years after its supposed date of issue.

Prices vary enormously by grade and history. One well-known circulated example, the F.C.C. Boyd specimen—notable as the first 1870-S dollar ever offered at public auction, though its surface was altered by an earlier owner’s removed initials—has been reported in auction and dealer records at $141,000 and later offered for $275,000. A problem-free example graded PCGS XF40 has been offered by a specialist dealer for $1.325 million; treat that figure as an asking price rather than a confirmed sale, and check PCGS CoinFacts or the handling auction house directly for the most current, verified numbers before relying on any single figure.

How to identify an 1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar

With only about a dozen known examples, each individually documented, identification means confirming a coin against its known history rather than screening an unfamiliar piece.

Confirm the date and mint mark

The date “1870” appears on the obverse, with a small “S” mint mark on the reverse below the eagle. An 1870 Seated Liberty dollar without a mint mark (Philadelphia) or with a “CC” mint mark (Carson City) is a different, far more available coin and should not be confused with the San Francisco rarity.

Recognize that every genuine example is already documented

Given the tiny known population, a coin claiming to be a previously undocumented 1870-S dollar requires significant independent authentication before being taken seriously—this is not a coin that turns up as a casual discovery in ordinary circumstances.

Pay close attention to condition and originality

Because so few examples exist, condition and surface originality drive enormous price differences within this tiny population. A coin with altered surfaces, removed engravings, or other originality problems—like the well-documented Boyd specimen—trades for a fraction of a problem-free example in the same technical grade.

Know the physical specifications

Per U.S. Mint records and PCGS CoinFacts, a Seated Liberty dollar of this type weighs 26.73 grams, measures 38.1mm in diameter, is struck in 90% silver, and has a reeded edge. Any coin offered as an 1870-S dollar that doesn’t match these baseline specifications should be treated with serious skepticism.

Buying considerations

This is not a coin found through routine dealer search

With roughly a dozen known examples, most already tracked through major collections and past auction appearances, a genuine 1870-S dollar reaching the market is a notable event in the specialist trade press, not a routine listing.

Certification and provenance are essential

At this value level, only consider a PCGS- or NGC-certified example, and verify the certification and ownership history directly. Given the wide price range driven by condition and originality, confirm exactly what you’re being offered—and at what grade—before assuming a price is representative of the series generally.

If your interest is Seated Liberty dollars generally

The broader Seated Liberty dollar series (1836–1873) includes considerably more available dates and mints, offering a realistic way to collect the design and era without chasing one of its rarest single issues.

Suggested search terms and filters

Because a genuine 1870-S dollar is unlikely to appear in routine inventory, consider:

• “1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar” (to catch any rare genuine listing)
• “Seated Liberty Dollar” more broadly (for the wider series, including more available dates and mints)

Save “1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar” to your wishlist to be notified on the rare chance a genuine listing appears.

Availability and pricing notes

With only about a dozen known examples, the 1870-S dollar rarely reaches the open market, and prices vary enormously by condition and provenance—from roughly $141,000 for a well-worn, surface-altered example to well over $1 million for a problem-free coin in a mid-range circulated grade. The unique mint-state example, should it ever be offered again, would likely command a price far beyond either figure.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that any listing represents a genuine example of a historic rarity. For a coin at this level, independent verification through a major grading service and established auction record is essential before treating any offer as credible.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar” to check current dealer inventory.
2. Expect no matches in nearly all cases. With only about a dozen known examples, this coin does not appear in routine dealer inventory.
3. Add it to your wishlist anyway. You’ll be notified if participating dealer inventory ever includes a matching listing.
4. Consider the broader Seated Liberty dollar series instead. Searching “Seated Liberty Dollar” more generally will connect you with an actual, collectible 19th-century series at far more realistic price points.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn’t the Mint have an official record of the 1870-S dollar?

No official mintage was ever recorded for San Francisco silver dollars in 1870. The leading theory is that a small, unofficial batch of coins across several denominations was struck in secret to be sealed into the cornerstone of the new San Francisco Mint building under construction that year.

How many 1870-S dollars are known to exist?

Roughly a dozen, ranging from well-worn circulated examples to a single unique mint-state coin graded PCGS MS62.

Could more examples still exist?

Possibly. Some researchers believe another 1870-S dollar may remain sealed inside the San Francisco Mint building’s original cornerstone, never recovered.

What has an 1870-S dollar sold for?

Prices vary enormously by condition and originality: a surface-altered circulated example has sold for $141,000 and been offered for $275,000, while a problem-free PCGS XF40 example has been offered for $1.325 million.

How can I tell if a listed 1870-S dollar is genuine?

Every genuine example has a documented pedigree. A coin without a traceable ownership history and independent certification should be treated with serious skepticism.

Should I expect to find this coin through a normal coin search?

No. With only about a dozen known examples, treat any listing claiming to offer this coin with serious skepticism and verify independently through a major grading service before considering it credible.

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