San Francisco Gold $5 Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1854-1916)

The Half Eagles of the San Francisco mint bear a rarity pattern quite similar to the Quarter Eagles. The ultra-rare 1854-S, with an original mintage of just 268 pieces of which three survive, sits atop the list and carries a price tag in seven figures. This, by definition, eliminates all but a very few of us from even considering completing the set. Also like the Quarter Eagles, the other tough dates are the Civil War era issues from 1861-1866. So while obtaining all the coins is a longshot at best, most of the rest are within reach in less than top grades.