1879-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-61 (PCGS). CAC.An originally and vividly patinated example that also sports sharp striking detail and lively mint luster. 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, as here. This date was a particularly challenging issue in Mint State before examples starting coming home from foreign bank hoards.From the Fairmont Collection.
