Jeff Garrett:Not only was this a low mintage date, but few survivors made it from San Francisco to the eastern banks where they could escape to Europe to wait out the first half of the 20th century. Most ended up being melted during the 1930s and returned as gold bricks to Fort Knox. Most examples of the date entered circulation and AU is the most commonly encountered grade. Any Mint State 1915–S $10 Eagle must be considered highly desirable. Starting in 1915, the United States Mint began saving handpicked examples of its gold coinage for the Mint collection. This practice continued until the end of United States gold coins in 1933. In the 1920s the Mint collection was transferred to the Smithsonian where they reside today.

The Smithsonian collection contains a Choice MS 64 example of the 1915–S $10. The single finest example of the date I have seen is the Ex. Robert Kruthoffer coin. I sold the coin to him in the early 1980s for around $25,000. It was actually how we met. When I called to offer him the coin, he was immediately excited to purchase it. It was a difficult transaction, but for anyone who knew Robert they would not be surprised. He sold the coin for $29,000 in 1981. It later resold for an amazing $198,000 in 1989 at the peak of that bull market. I imagine that this coin is now certified at the MS 67 level.