1863 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-58 (PCGS).Rich, satiny luster blankets the surfaces of this Choice AU specimen, boasting pleasing medium-gold coloration throughout. Trivial bagmarks are visible on the obverse under inspection, though actual friction from handling remains negligible. An original and overall bold example.;While the 1863 was produced in somewhat greater numbers than the 1862, it still had a low mintage of just 142,790 circulation strikes. It is the third rarest Type I double eagle from the Philadelphia Mint, with only the 1853/2 and 1862 more difficult to obtain in all grades. With so few examples included in repatriations from European banks, and none discovered as part of the S.S. Brother Jonathan treasure, the 1863 remains a formidable rarity in Mint State. The present example is one of just 17 certified by PCGS at the AU-58 level and only 23 rank finer through MS-64.
