1879 Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS). Highly lustrous with a razor sharp strike, this beautiful double eagle is enhanced by vivid golden-rose patina. The surfaces are exceptionally smooth and well preserved, establishing this coin as a significant condition rarity for the issue. Mintage for this circulation strike Philadelphia Mint double eagle issue is 207,600 pieces, down more than 336,000 coins from the previous years tally at this facility. Much of the mintage was sent abroad in banking transactions, although many were paid out at par in the next few years -- the first time gold coins circulated in East Coast commerce since 1861. About 350 to 450 Mint State examples of the issue are extant, mainly in the MS-60 to MS-61 range, and finer pieces are seldom available. The 1879 was a true scarcity in Uncirculated condition until the second half of the 20th century, when specimens began to flow back to America. Even now it is among the scarcer Type III Liberty Head double eagles in all Mint State grades, and it remains a significant rarity with the quality and eye appeal offered here. The primary plate coin for the issue on the <em>PCGS CoinFacts</em> website.
