1852 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-53 (PCGS). Pretty rose-orange patina blankets both sides of this overall sharply defined, appreciably lustrous example. The mintage for the circulation strike 1852 double eagle is 2,053,026 pieces, or $41,060,520 face value. As with most early Philadelphia Mint double eagles, the quantity struck reflects the huge influx of gold from the California gold fields that was shipped to the Northeast beginning in 1849, then growing considerably larger with each passing year. The Philadelphia mintages would begin to lessen in size, however, after the opening of the mint at San Francisco in 1854, although not to the same extent as in New Orleans. Most 1852 double eagles remained in the United States and were used in domestic commerce, though many were sent overseas years later, by which time the coins had already acquired considerable wear. With fewer than 150, if not 125 different examples believed extant in Mint State, attractive AU examples such as this are always greeted with strong bids in todays market. From the Naples Bay Collection. Earlier from our (Stacks) sale of February 1955, lot 1008. Lot tag included. From the Naples Bay Collection. Earlier from our (Stacks) sale of February 1955, lot 1008. Lot tag included.