1879-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-60 (PCGS).Lustrous honey-gold surfaces reveal modest semi-reflective tendencies in the fields as the coin dips into a light. Fully struck with superior eye appeal at the basal Mint State grade level. 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. The 1879-S was a particularly challenging issue in Mint State before examples starting coming home from foreign bank hoards. Even so, it remains scarce with the undeniable originality offered here.
