1856 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-58 (PCGS). CAC.Endearing deep gold surfaces with nearly complete mint luster in a softly frosted texture. Most design elements are sharply defined, and the in hand appearance is uncommonly smooth for the assigned grade. The mintage for the 1856 is 329,878 circulation strikes, down nearly 40,000 pieces from the previous years figure. The face value of Philadelphia Mint double eagles struck that year is $6,597,560. The 1856 is considered by many to be a common date, no doubt because of the size of the mintages that occurred in Philadelphia at the beginning of the series. With regard to higher grades nothing could be further from the truth. This date has long been respected by specialists in the denomination as one of the more challenging Philadelphia Mint issues of the 1850s, especially in attractive high grade condition, as here. Of the perhaps 500 to 700 circulated examples extant, most grade VF to EF, this premium Choice AU among the finest that we have ever offered.From the Fairmont Collection.
