1861 Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-62 (PCGS). This lovely double eagle is smartly impressed with razor sharp to full striking detail throughout the design. Original surfaces are beautifully colored and highly lustrous with a bold satin to softly frosted finish. It will be equally well suited for a high quality type set or advanced Liberty Head double eagle collection. With 2,976,453 pieces produced, the 1861 has the highest mintage of any pre-1904 double eagle, achieved to help fund the Union war effort on the outbreak of armed conflict with the South. Prior to the salvage of shipwreck treasures such as that of the <em>S.S. Central America</em>, this was the most available issue of the Type I Liberty Head design. A string of early Union defeats on the battlefield resulted in Northern banks suspending gold specie payments in December 1861. Hoarding began, an activity that probably accounts for most of the several hundred Mint State survivors of this issue. Given the popularity of the Liberty Head double eagle series with todays advanced gold specialists, premium Uncirculated examples such as this are rare from a market availability standpoint. Indeed, we have offered very few 1861 twenties of similar quality and eye appeal over the years. This Fairmont Collection offering is sure to result in spirited bidding among astute collectors. PCGS# 8932. NGC ID: 269G. From the Fairmont Collection - CBL Set.
