1870 Liberty Head Eagle. AU-55 (PCGS).
Beautiful honey-gold and orange-apricot blanket this key date eagle and confirm its originality. Both sides retain ample evidence of a prooflike finish, the fields notably reflective despite light rub and wispy handling marks that define the Choice AU grade from PCGS. Sharply struck with virtually complete detail remaining throughout the design. As with virtually all Philadelphia Mint eagles from the 1860s and 1870s, the 1870 is a low mintage, circulation strike issue with just 3,990 coins produced in this format. Gold had still not returned to commercial use in the East and Midwest, explaining the limited production for this denomination at the nation's main coinage facility throughout much of the Reconstruction era. Survivors of the 1870 issue are very scarce in lower grades and rare to non-existent in AU and Mint State. In fact there is only one Mint State example certified (NGC MS-60), reinforcing the significance of the present offering for advanced collectors of Liberty Head gold coinage.
PCGS# 8657. NGC ID: 264T.
PCGS Population: 12; 10 finer (AU-58 finest at this service).
From the Fairmont Collection - JBR Set.