1863 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-55 (NGC).Lustrous satin to softly frosted surfaces retain much of the original finish despite having seen light commercial use. Handsome medium golden-orange patina throughout, both sides also sport sharp to full striking detail. 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 <em>S.S. Brother Jonathan</em> treasure, the 1863 remains a formidable rarity in Mint State. Conditionally scarce in its own right, this handsome AU would rank as a significant addition to any gold cabinet.
