1859 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-58 (NGC).This 1859 double eagle offers lovely near-Mint quality for an elusive and conditionally challenging issue. Both sides are awash in rich reddish-honey patina with ample satin to semi-prooflike luster. A few of the obverse stars are lightly impressed, but otherwise we note bold to sharp definition throughout both sides. 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 (<em>An Insiders Guide to Collecting Type I Double Eagles</em>, 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 are of the utmost rarity, which fact further enhances the significance of this scarce Choice AU.
