1850 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-58 (NGC).，This is a lovely Choice AU representative of one of the most eagerly sought issues in the Liberty Head double eagle series. Light golden yellow surfaces are sharply to fully defined and have an overall smooth appearance. Predominantly satiny in texture, there is also some modest semi-reflectivity in isolated field areas. The 1850 is the first regular issue double eagle from the Philadelphia Mint (the unique Proof 1849 in the National Numismatic Collections at the Smithsonian Institution is a pattern). This denomination, the highest that the United States Mint has ever produced for circulation, was authorized by the Act of March 3, 1849, to serve as a storehouse and convenient medium of exchange for the vast quantities of gold discovered and mined during the California Gold Rush. Indeed, during the earliest years of the double eagle series unprecedented quantities of gold were shipped from California to the eastern United States to be minted into coins at the Philadelphia and, to a lesser extent, New Orleans mints.<p>Using the Liberty Head design by Engraver James Barton Longacre, the Philadelphia Mint produced 1,170,261 circulation strike double eagles in 1850. This issue saw extensive commercial use and survivors in grades such as VF and EF are readily available, and AU-50 or AU-53 examples can be located with persistence. Choice About Uncirculated examples are scarce, however, and the issue is rare and seldom encountered in Mint State. The present example is one of 55 pieces that NGC has certified from the treasure of the <em>S.S. Republic</em> shipwreck, the vast majority of which are circulated to one degree or another. It is sure to appeal to double eagle specialists and collectors of shipwreck treasure alike.，Ex <em>S.S. Republic</em>.，
