1859 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-50 (PCGS). This 1859 double eagle offers superior AU quality for an elusive and conditionally challenging issue. Both sides are awash in richly original color with considerable mint luster remaining. A bit lightly struck in isolated areas, yet impressively bold overall.<p>With just 43,597 circulation strikes produced, the 1859 has the second lowest mintage among Philadelphia Mint double eagles of the Type I Liberty Head design. Douglas Winter and Adam Crum (<em>An Insiders Guide to Collecting Type I Double Eagles</em>, 2002) mention just three of four Uncirculated coins that surfaced during the late 1990s. Obviously, the 1859 has not benefited from any shipwreck or similar finds that increased the availability of issues such as the 1857-S and 1865-S. Only 350 or so coins are believed extant, most of which are in circulated grades such as VF and EF. Mint State survivors remain of the utmost rarity, with premium AUs only marginally less rare. This coin from the current installment of the Fairmont Collection is one of our most important and desirable offerings for this underrated issue in recent years. PCGS# 8926. NGC ID: 269A. From the Fairmont Collection - CBL Set.
