1859 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-55 (PCGS).Lovely light honey-gold surfaces retain plenty of bright satin to softly frosted mint luster that is best appreciated with the aid of direct lighting. Sharply defined over most design elements. With a mere 43,597 circulation strikes produced, the 1859 boasts the lowest mintage among Philadelphia Mint double eagles produced up to that point in time. Examples are scarce in all grades, Q. David Bowers (2004) accounting for just 250 to 350 circulated survivors and a mere three to five pieces in Mint State. Obviously, the 1859 has not benefited from any shipwreck or similar finds that increased the high grade availability of issues such as the 1857-S and 1865-S. Finer than the typically encountered VF or EF example, this flashy AU would make a significant addition to an advanced double eagle set.
