1859 Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC.

This 1859 double eagle offers phenomenal Mint State quality for an elusive and conditionally challenging issue. Bordering on Choice, both sides are awash in richly original color with abundant mint luster. A bit lightly struck in isolated areas, yet impressively sharp overall. With just 43,597 circulation strikes produced, the 1859 has the second lowest mintage among Philadelphia Mint double eagles of the Type I Liberty Head design. Douglas Winter and Adam Crum ( An Insider's Guide to Collecting Type I Double Eagles, 2002) mention just three of four Uncirculated coins that surfaced during the late 1990s. Obviously, the 1859 has not benefited from any shipwreck or similar finds that increased the availability of issues such as the 1857-S and 1865-S. Only 350 or so coins are believed extant, most of which are in circulated grades such as VF and EF. Mint State survivors remain of the utmost rarity, and the present coin from the Fairmont holdings is not only a newcomer to the Condition Census, but has skyrocketed to CC#1 ranking. It is one of our most important and desirability offerings for this underrated issue of all time.

PCGS# 8926. NGC ID: 269A.

PCGS Population: 2; 0 finer. CAC Population: 2; 0.

From the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set.

Estimate: $ 40000