1860-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-58 (PCGS). CAC.Vivid rose-honey patina mingles with nearly full mint frost on both sides of this boldly defined, attractively original example. Federal records indicate that 544,950 double eagles were coined in the West Coast branch mint during 1860, these having a face value of $10,899,000. We estimate that 1,500 to 2,500 circulated examples have survived to the present time, a figure representing less than 1/2 of 1% of the original production figure. Although plentiful by Type I Liberty Head double eagle standards in circulated grades, the 1860-S is typically offered no finer than EF, although the persistent buyer should be able to acquire an AU-50 or AU-53 under normal market conditions. Near-Mint examples such as this are legitimately scarce and, given the rarity of the 1860-S in Mint State, such pieces represent a significant find for the astute gold collector.
