1904 Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-65+ (PCGS).Silky smooth surfaces are fully struck and bathed in a delightful blend of softly frosted luster and light golden-honey patina. This is the highest mintage circulation strike double eagle of the Liberty Head design type, the mintage 6,256,699 pieces for a face value of $125,133,980. By the early 20th century gold coins no longer actively circulated within the United States, except for limited use on the West Coast, which needs were easily met by the San Francisco Mint. As such, it seems that most examples of this Philadelphia Mint issue were used in international commerce, generally in the form of shipment to England or France. Hundreds of thousands of these coins returned to the United States beginning after World War Two, the 1904 now far and away the most plentiful issue of its type in Mint State. At the premium Gem Uncirculated level, as here, the 1904 is scarce and enjoys particularly strong demand for inclusion in high grade type and date sets. This is a beautiful coin, and it is sure to sell for a strong bid.
