1879-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-62 (PCGS).Beautiful rose-gold patina mingles with lively mint frost on both sides of this condition rarity 1879-S double eagle. Sharply struck, as well, and eagerly awaiting inclusion in another noteworthy collection. The mintage for this issue is 1,223,800 pieces, down more than 515,000 coins from the previous years output at the San Francisco Mint. Face value totaled $24,476,000. Many were shipped to foreign destinations, although fewer have been repatriated than for many other double eagles of the era. Some 400 to 500 Uncirculated examples exist, mainly at the MS-60 and MS-61 levels. This date was a particularly challenging issue in Mint State before examples starting coming home from foreign bank hoards. Even so, it remains scarce with the quality and eye appeal offered here, and rare any finer.From the Fairmont Collection.
