A scarce and challenging Civil War era double eagle offered here at a high level of preservation. Warmly and evenly toned in bold orange-gold, both sides retain plenty of original luster in a lively satin texture. Most design elements are sharp, if not full. As with the 1862 and 1865, examples of which are also being offered in this sale, the 1864 ranks among the rarer Type I double eagles from the Philadelphia Mint. Although 204,235 pieces were produced for commercial use, attrition through exportation and melting were high, and we would be surprised if more than 450 or 500 coins have survived in all grades. Finer than the typically offered VF or EF example, this Choice AU would serve with distinction in a higher quality double eagle set.
