1865-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-63 (PCGS).This is a delightful double eagle, with both sides sharply struck and an overall smooth, satiny texture. Watch this one go! Such pieces are not often available today, as most owners hold on to them tightly.Warm rose-gold patina on both sides provides additional appeal. On Sunday, July 30, 1865, the <em>S.S. Brother Jonathan</em> ran into an uncharted rock during a gale and sank off the coast near Crescent City, California, taking with it 219 people and a substantial golden treasure. In the 1990s, Deep Sea Research, Inc. located the wreck and in a series of exploration dives salvaged 1,207 coins, most of which were 1865-S double eagles. Prior to the discovery, Mint State survivors of this issue were extremely rare. More than 600 of the coins from the <em>S.S. Brother Jonathan</em> treasure are Uncirculated, however, realigning the 1865-S as one of the more available Type I Liberty Head double eagles in Mint State. Since these coins were fist sold at auction in 1999, they have been popular with high grade gold type collectors and double eagle enthusiasts, as well as with collectors of shipwreck treasure. Fully Choice in quality with strong visual appeal, the present example is sure to please.Challenge to ponder: Try to obtain one double eagle from each of the famous treasure ship discoveries -- the <em>S.S. Brother Jonathan, S.S. Central America, </em>and <em>S.S. Republic.</em> You can read a sketch of each in the front pages of <em>A Guide Book of United States Coins.</em>From the Collection of Carril Valparaiso. Earlier our (Bowers and Merena) Sale of the <em>S.S. Brother Jonathan Treasure Coins</em>, May 1999 Lot 644.
