1861-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-60 (NGC).Regular reverse. This impressive Mint State 1861-S double eagle belongs in an advanced collection of Liberty Head gold coinage. Fully struck over all but a few isolated elements of the design, both sides display a blend of deep orange-gold patina and soft satin luster. After producing 19,250 double eagles in early 1861 using the Paquet Reverse, the San Francisco Mint went on to strike an additional 768,000 examples using the pre-existing reverse by James Barton Longacre. The "regular reverse" 1861-S twenty is available in circulated grades, although in Mint State it is a significant condition rarity. It is actually the fifth rarest San Francisco Mint double eagle of its type in Mint State, ranking ahead of such other issues as the 1859-S, 1860-S, 1862-S and 1864-S. As a significant offering for the specialist, we anticipate strong competition for this coin when it appears at auction.From the Collection of Carril Valparaiso.
