1884-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-63 (PCGS).This delightful example is fully struck with bountiful mint frost and vivid rose-gold patina. The mintage for this San Francisco Mint double eagle issue is 916,000 pieces ($18,320,000 face value). Similar to contemporary issues, many served in commerce, others were shipped overseas, and some were held in reserve for the redemption of Gold Certificates. David W. Akers accounted for dozens of Uncirculated examples in his 1982 double eagle treatise, and when Q. David Bowers penned his Guide Book of Double Eagles in 2004 the estimate had grown to thousands, most of which are believed to have been repatriated to American collections from bank hoards. The present example is attractive in all regards and would do equally well in a Choice type or date set.
