Double Eagles - Lots 829-915
Choice Mint State 1860 Double Eagle
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part IV
Double Eagles - Lots 829-915
Choice Mint State 1860 Double Eagle
829 1860 MS-64 (PCGS). Soft frosty yellow gold lustre with extremely sharp design details. Truly a coin for the connoisseur, a visual treat! Although a number of Mint State 1860 double eagles are known—particularly in lower grade levels—in the current preservation it stands high as a condition rarity. Again, we might expect that some of the fortunate holders of Central America and Brother Jonathan coins might like to have this landlocked 1860 to go with them.
PCGS Population: 2; 1 finer (MS-65).
From Abner Kreisberg’s sale of November 1972, Lot 1300. Reoffered from Part III of the Bass Collection, May 2000, Lot 801.
830 1860 AU-58. Satiny light yellow gold lustre with very faint hairlines. This is a highly attractive example of an issue that is quite rare in Mint State grades. A minor scrape from the rim above final S angles down between this S and O.
Radial spikes from the back of Miss Liberty’s head are clash marks from the rays above the eagle’s wing.
From Stack’s sale of the Shapero Collection, October 1971, Lot 1172.
831 1860 Net VF-30; sharpness of AU-55, harshly cleaned and etched with rim damage and hairlines in the left obverse field.
Purchased from RARCOA, December 8, 1971.
Wonderful 1860-O Double Eagle
Condition Census Quality
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832 1860-O AU-55 (PCGS). This is an exceptional example with reflective greenish gold surfaces and light to moderate abrasions. Nearly full prooflike fields with very sharp design features. A very rare issue with just 6,600 coins minted, and possibly 1% of this total surviving today. A lovely Condition Census specimen, a piece that will be a highlight of any specialized cabinet of New Orleans Mint coinage. As always, the Bass Collection pedigree adds a quintessential element to such physical attributes as design, grade, and appearance.
PCGS Population: 3; 1 finer (AU-58).
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2418.
833 1860-S EF-45. Light yellow with minor abrasions and considerable lustre. A pleasing example of the Type I design for your date or type collection.
Purchased from Jack Klausen, June 19, 1968.
834 1861 MS-60. Satiny greenish yellow gold with sharp design features. The surfaces are lightly hairlined and several small digs into the reverse appear within the central motif. A pleasing example, which at first glance appears much finer.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 1221.
Satiny Mint State 1861 Double Eagle
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835 1861 MS-62. Sharply struck with satiny pinkish gold lustre and very pleasing surfaces for the grade. An excellent candidate for the type collector, struck in the early days of the Civil War.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, June 6, 1969.
Mint State 1861 Double Eagle
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836 1861 MS-60. Satiny light yellow gold with delightful surfaces. A few very minor hairlines and other blemishes may be seen only with careful examination.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, May 7, 1969. Earlier from the RARCOA CSNA sale, Lot 228.
837 1861-S AU-55. Lustrous pale yellow gold with very minor blemishes. A pleasing example.
A die crack from base of first 1 angles to top of final 1 and inside point of star 13. Another joins stars 4, 5, and 6. Reverse cracked through tops of legend.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation, November 3, 1971.
838 1861-S EF-45. Attractive yellow gold with a hint of orange. Substantial lustre remains.
Cracked through tops of ERICA.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, July 8, 1968.
Scarce 1862 Double Eagle
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839 1862 AU-55. Satiny greenish gold with moderate hairlines and other light abrasions. A scarce date.
Purchased from an unspecified Parke-Bernet auction, Lot 26.
840 1862 EF-45. Light yellow gold with moderate abrasions and considerable remaining lustre. This is a very scarce Civil War issue from a mintage of just 92,133 coins.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 21, 1969.
841 1862-S AU-55. A first glance suggests choice Mint State with delightful frosty light yellow gold lustre. Unfortunately, the obverse has a patch of hairlines at upper right and the reverse has light file marks on the rim, especially at 2:00.
From Stack’s ANA Sale, August 1976, Lot 3207.
842 1863 EF-40. Light yellow gold surfaces. Lightly cleaned with minor hairlines.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, November 1, 1967.
843 1863-S Small S. AU-55. Lustrous light yellow gold with hairlines from cleaning. Walter Breen commented that this is a rare variety.
Cracked through TES OF AMERICA and TWENTY D.
Purchased from Jack Klausen, June 19, 1968.
844 1863-S EF-45. A pleasing example with very few surface marks and considerable lustre remaining in the protected areas.
Purchased from Steve Tebo, June 10, 1967.
845 1863-S Small S. VF-35. Pale yellow gold with pleasing surfaces. The small mintmark variety is rarer than the medium mintmark.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2431.
846 1864 AU-50. Lustrous light yellow gold with minor surface imperfections.
A stray die line inside the upper loop of 8 gives the appearance of a recut digit.
From Stack’s sale of December 1970, Lot 422.
847 1864 EF-45. Sharply struck with attractive green-gold surfaces and minor abrasions. Considerable lustre remains, with evidence of reflective fields.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, May 30, 1972.
848 1864-S AU-55. Lustrous light yellow gold with a hint of pinkish toning about the borders and devices.
Purchased from Robert Roth, December 2, 1969.
849 1865 AU-53. A wonderful example with frosty light yellow gold lustre and minor abrasions. An important opportunity to acquire an attractive gold issue from the close of the Civil War.
Minor clash marks are noted.
Purchased from Stack’s, December 7, 1971.
850 1865 AU-50. Pleasing light yellow gold with moderately abraded surfaces and faint scratches on Liberty’s cheek.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, January 10, 1968.
851 1865-S EF-45. A light yellow gold example.
Purchased from Lester Merkin, January 24, 1968.
852 1865-S EF-45. Moderately abraded with traces of pinkish orange lustre. This is typical of examples in numismatic circulation prior to discovery of the S.S. Brother Jonathan treasure.
Purchased from Ed Shapiro, February 16, 1968.
853 1865-S EF-40. Light yellow gold with minor abrasions and considerable remaining lustre.
Purchased from Leo Young, date not recorded.
854 1865-S VF-35. Pale yellow gold with numerous abrasions.
Purchased from Lester Merkin, January 24, 1968.
Important 1866-S No Motto $20
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855 1866-S No Motto. EF-40. Abraded light yellow gold surfaces with a hint of green on the obverse. This is a very pleasing example as the majority of survivors grade Fine or Very Fine. One of the key issues of the series, as very few survive today. The number of pieces coined without motto this year and the number coined with is not known with certainly, although guesses have been published.
A curious thing about the 1866-S No Motto coinage—cutting across all series (much as can be said for the 1849-O silver and gold coins) is that when seen today, nearly all show extensive wear.
856 1866 Motto. AU-55. A lovely example with lustrous light yellow gold and minor abrasions. A scratch and small hairlines are noted in the left obverse field. First year of the Type II design with motto on the reverse.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, February 18, 1972.
857 1866 Motto. AU-50. A pleasing example with attractive honey gold surfaces and considerable lustre, especially on the reverse. A few minor rim bruises are noted.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 14, 1968.
858 1866-S Motto. AU-55. Lustrous rich yellow gold surfaces with minor blemishes and rim nicks. A pleasing example for the date or type collector.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 866.
859 1866-S Motto. AU-55. Although light abrasions are visible, this remains an attractive example.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 14, 1968.
860 1866-S Motto. AU-50. Lustrous and attractive with faint pinkish gold toning.
Purchased from Bob Roth, date not recorded.
Lustrous Mint State 1867 $20
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861 1867 MS-60 (PCGS). A highly attractive example with rich yellow gold lustre and deeper peripheral toning. Considerable aesthetic appeal despite a scratch in the left obverse field. Walter Breen mentioned a hoard of 2,000 discovered in Europe around 1966. All or nearly all were extensively "baggy" and must have been shuffled around for a long period of years.
Purchased from Jack Klausen, November 1, 1968.
862 1867-S AU-50. Fully lustrous yellow gold with heavy hairlines on obverse and reverse.
Purchased from Leo Young, April 14, 1967.
863 1867-S EF-45. Rich yellow gold with moderate abrasions and a few splashes of coppery orange toning on the obverse.
Purchased from Leo Young via Michael Brownlee, April 18, 1967.
864 1868 Repunched Date. EF-45. Lightly cleaned with pale yellow gold and minor hairlines. A few other tiny abrasions are noted. An important opportunity due to the repunched date, not discussed by Walter Breen in his Complete Encyclopedia.
Date is repunched, and possibly triple punched. The serif of 1 appears tripled and base repunched below. The first 8 is repunched below the bottom loop and at outer left bottom of upper loop. The 6 is very slightly doubled. The final 8 has two distinct artifacts inside the lower loop and is doubled above.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2344.
865 1868 Doubled 18. VF-35. Very pale yellow gold with a whisper of pink. Lightly cleaned with minor abrasions.
Digit 1 has a doubled serif and first 8 shows very minor doubling.
Purchased from Jack Klausen, June 19, 1968.
866 1868-S AU-50. Lustrous light yellow gold with minor surface marks.
Artifacts extend right from the lower right upright of 1 and left inside curve of lower loop of first 8.
Purchased from Jack Klausen, June 19, 1968.
867 1868-S VF-35. Very light yellow gold with tooling marks at top of Liberty’s head.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 870.
868 1869 AU-58. An attractive example of this scarce issue with nearly complete frosty light yellow lustre. A few scattered surface marks are present.
From Stack’s sale of the Copeland Collection, April 1967, Lot 1818.
869 1869 AU-58. A twin to the previous lot with frosty light yellow gold lustre. Faint abrasions and hairlines are noted.
Purchased from Michael Brownlee, April 17, 1967.
870 1869 AU-50. Lightly cleaned with very pale yellow gold surfaces and minor imperfections.
Purchased from Jack Klausen, June 19, 1968.
871 1869-S AU-50. Lustrous light yellow gold and attractive. A nice choice for date or type collector.
All of the obverse stars are doubled, the result of strike or machine doubling.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 30, 1968.
872 1869-S AU-50. Lightly cleaned with evidence visible primarily on the obverse. Nearly full light yellow lustre may be seen on the reverse.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 872.
Selection of Double Eagles
873 One dozen Liberty double eagles, each cleaned or with defects noted: I 1869-S EF-40. Minor obverse scratches on cheek I 1871-S VF-20. Light scratches I 1876 AU-55. Light obverse scratches I 1887-S (2). AU-58, brushed; AU-50. Heavy obverse abrasions I 1888 AU-53 I 1893-S AU-53 I 1898-S AU-58 I 1899 AU-50 I 1904 MS-60. Brushed I 1904-S AU-50 I 1905-S AU-50. No doubt acquired by Harry Bass for study purposes—different date logotype positions, die states, and other aspects. (Total: 12 pieces)
874 1870 AU-55. Cleaned with numerous hairlines yet retaining nearly full satiny yellow gold lustre. Scattered surface marks are visible on both sides.
From Paramount’s sale of February 1971, Lot 1627.
875 1870-S AU-58 (PCGS). This is a wonderful example with sharp design definition and nearly full light yellow gold lustre. Although by no means a rarity, this is a very scarce issue, especially elusive in higher grades.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 25, 1971.
Double Eagle Opportunity
876 Half dozen Liberty double eagles, each EF-45: I 1870-S I 1872-S I 1873-S Closed 3 I 1874-S I 1883-S I 1897. (Total: 6 pieces)
877 1871 AU-53. A lovely example of James Longacre’s handiwork, with light yellow gold lustre and sharp design definition. A scarce issue from a mintage of just 80,120 coins.
From Stack’s sale of the Copeland Collection, April 1967, Lot 1822.
Impressive 1871-CC Double Eagle
Carson City Rarity
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878 1871-CC EF-45 (PCGS). Lightly cleaned with subdued deep yellow gold surfaces and minor abrasions. Only 17,387 examples of this denomination were struck during the second year of production in Carson City. Survivors are seldom seen with a total known population today of approximately 125 coins. This is the second rarest Carson City double eagle.
As noted earlier under our offering of early $5 and $10 pieces from the western mint, Carson City gold coins of 1870-1872 seem to have been circulated locally and regionally rather than exported at the time of mintage. Today, the typical grade seen is VF, and only occasionally EF (as here) or finer.
Machine doubling is visible on the reverse.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, July 9, 1968.
879 1871-S AU-58. Very light yellow gold lustre with light abrasions. This example has exceptional aesthetic appeal and may be called fully Mint State by some.
A small horizontal dash is positioned southwest of the bottom of 7 in date.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, February 4, 1972.
880 1871-S AU-50. Pale yellow gold surfaces with light abrasions and ample lustre.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 23, 1968.
Wonderful Mint State 1872 $20
Only One Finer Graded by PCGS
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881 1872 MS-62 (PCGS). Highly lustrous and rich deep orange-gold with lighter honey gold on the devices. The obverse is mostly frosty while the reverse has satiny, reflective fields. Perhaps one of the hidden rarities in this sale. Although 251,850 circulation strikes were minted, only a handful survive in full Mint State preservation. PCGS has graded just 42 examples MS-60 or finer, with 24 graded MS-60 and 15 graded MS-61.
PCGS Population: 2; 1 finer (MS-63).
Purchased from Julian Leidman, May 15, 1971.
882 1872 AU-55. Reflective light yellow gold with moderate abrasions and hairlines, primarily on the obverse.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, June 6, 1968.
New 1872-S Variety Discovery
883 1872-S 187 in Dentils. AU-53. Abraded light yellow gold with nearly full lustre. This is an extremely important discovery for the numismatic scholar studying mint technology, per the notes below. We are not aware of any previous knowledge of this variety, and no mention was found in notes by Harry Bass.
Located in the dentils beneath the date are tops of the digits 187, with no trace of a 2. This immediately suggests use of a three-digit logotype to enter dates in coinage dies. The chances of three individual stray punches, each exactly beneath the final date position, is virtually nil. We conclude that the only possibility is a random punch from a three-digit logotype, or possibly a four-digit logotype with the final digit not visible. Discovered by Mark Borckardt, September 27, 2000.
At our office we have had the pleasure of "discovering" a number of different gold varieties in the Bass Collection, hitherto unpublished. It is only fair to say that had Harry Bass lived a few more years, he probably would have had a chance to study many of his coins in greater detail than he did—and credit would go to him. As it is, credit still must go to him for a large share of everything—simply because he had the foresight to gather such an impressive, extensive holding, now available for a new generation of connoisseurs to appreciate and enjoy.
Purchased from I. Kleinman, November 13, 1971.
884 1873 Close 3. AU-55. Abraded light yellow gold with nearly full lustre. Struck early in the year prior to the change to the Open 3 logotype.
Purchased from Parke-Bernet Galleries.
885 1873 Close 3. EF-45. Light yellow gold with scattered obverse surface marks and traces of lustre. The reverse is nearly fully lustrous.
Purchased from Lester Merkin, June 15, 1967.
886 1873 Close 3. EF-40. Lightly abraded yellow gold with hints of lustre. A small splash of orange toning at the date.
887 1873 Open 3. MS-62. Frosty yellow gold lustre with scattered surface marks including a light scratch in right obverse field. A reverse rim bruise is over O in OF.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation, March 15, 1972.
Half Dozen Double Eagles
888 Six Liberty double eagles, each AU-58 and almost fully lustrous: I 1873 Open 3 I 1877-S I 1894 I 1895 I 1898 I 1899-S. An attractive grouping. (Total: 6 pieces)
Desirable 1873-CC Double Eagle
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889 1873-CC AU-50. Sharply struck with light greenish gold and considerable remaining lustre. This is a rare issue from a mintage of just 22,410 coins. This example has exceptional surfaces with very few minor abrasions and faint hairlines. Doug Winter estimated approximately 175 to 200 examples known with only 25 to 30 AU or better. A very important opportunity for the date collector or Carson City specialist.
The reverse has doubled lettering, and even tripled in a few instances, all the result of strike or machine doubling.
Purchased from Doug Weaver, August 30, 1973.
Six Liberty Double Eagles
890 Half dozen Liberty double eagles, each AU-50 with light to medium yellow gold lustre: I 1873-S Closed 3 I 1874-S I 1876 I 1878-S I 1880-S I 1902-S. (Total: 6 pieces)
Half Dozen San Francisco $20
891 Selection of six Liberty double eagles, each from San Francisco. These grade AU-58 and have brilliant yellow gold lustre: I 1873-S Open 3 I 1878-S I 1884-S I 1891-S I 1897-S I 1900-S. (Total: 6 pieces)
Double Eagle Collection
892 Selection of AU-55 Liberty double eagles, each a different issue. These choice AU examples all have nearly full brilliant lustre with very minor abrasions: I 1873-S Open 3 I 1875-S I 1879 I 1895 I 1896-S I 1902 I 1906-S. (Total: 7 pieces)
Finest PCGS 1874 Double Eagle
The Dunham Collection Specimen
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893 1874 MS-64 (PCGS). This is arguably the finest known circulation strike of this issue. Sharply struck with frosty yellow gold lustre and a few splashes of coppery orange toning. A few scattered surface marks are noted, mostly on the obverse. The reverse, if graded separately, would easily qualify as MS-65 or finer. With a mintage of 366,800 coins, this qualifies as a lower mintage issue, and is much scarcer than generally believed.
In 1970, when Stack’s offered this coin, they stated: "Brilliant uncirculated, with frosty mint surfaces. A few insignificant bagmarks. Very scarce so choice. From the Dunham Sale in 1941." Earlier, in the Dunham sale, B. Max Mehl had this to say: "Uncirculated, with frosty mint surface. Very scarce so choice." Neither catalogue provided an illustration.
PCGS Population: 1; none finer.
For the type collector, this is a logical choice, combining quality and rarity. With the discovery of two large maritime treasures, double eagles of the Type I design have become much more available than they were as recently as two years ago. As noted earlier in the present catalogue, this has served to spur interest, to attract many new people to the hobby, and to create a lot of excitement. Type III double eagles have always been easy to find—now, 10 years ago, and when they were minted. This leaves the Type II, as offered here, as a very scarce design in choice or gem Mint State. We can readily imagine when this lovely piece crosses the auction block there will be a special amount of attention focused on it!
From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 434. Earlier from B. Max Mehl’s sale of the W.F. Dunham Collection, June 1941, Lot 2316.
894 1874 AU-50. Lustrous and attractive yellow gold surfaces with very minor abrasions. This is the second highest mintage double eagle from Carson City and represents an ideal opportunity for the type collector of western mint coins.
From Stack’s sale of June 1972, Lot 945.
895 Seven Liberty double eagles grading AU-55: I 1874-S I 1876-S I 1879-S I 1895-S I 1898 I 1904 I 1907-S Short S. Each displays lustrous and attractive surfaces. (Total: 7 pieces)
896 1875 MS-60. sharpness of MS-63 with filed rims.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 1249.
897 1875 AU-55. Lightly abraded with reflective honey gold lustre. Sharply struck.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, August 4, 1967.
Exceptional 1875-CC Double Eagle
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898 1875-CC Close CC. MS-62 (PCGS). This is a lovely example with frosty yellow gold devices and satiny lustre in the fields. Slight cameo contrast adds to the aesthetic appeal of this popular western mint issue. Relatively common in lower quality Mint State, due to the large number of examples that never entered circulation. Perhaps 1% of the original mintage still survives, with a quarter of these in low quality Mint State. Higher quality Mint State examples are rare, as evidenced by the quantity graded by PCGS in the various numeric levels: MS-60 (68); MS-61 (65); MS-62 (74); MS-63 (10); none finer.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, September 14, 1968.
899 1875-CC Close CC. AU-58. Softly struck with nearly full light yellow gold lustre and minor surface marks. A pleasing example of this plentiful Carson City Mint issue.
Reverse has doubled lettering, the result of strike or machine doubling.
Purchased from A. Rosing, June 21, 1967.
900 1875-CC Wide CC. AU-55. Moderate abrasions over attractive light yellow gold lustre. A trace of orange toning is noted on the reverse.
Light doubling on the reverse letters, described by Walter Breen as a doubled die reverse. To us appears to be strike doubling.
Purchased from Michael Brownlee, April 16, 1967.
901 1875-CC Close CC. Net VF-35; sharpness of AU-50, heavy hairlines.
Reverse lettering doubled, the result of strike doubling.
Purchased from Jack Klausen, December 13, 1968.
902 1875-S MS-60. Rich and lustrous yellow gold with light abrasions and minor scratches. This example remains appealing.
Purchased from Robert Roth, December 2, 1969.
903 1875-S AU-58. Lustrous light yellow gold with moderate abrasions. A pleasing example for the date or type collector.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation, January 26, 1973.
904 1876 MS-62. Sharply struck with appealing light yellow gold lustre and moderate abrasions, as expected for the grade.
The motto has very heavy letters, compared to the next lot. A wide gap is noted between rays below right side of the first S in STATES. Also compare to the next lot without such a gap.
Purchased from Robert Johnson, September 14, 1967.
905 1876 MS-62. Attractive light yellow gold with fully brilliant lustre and minor abrasions.
Light motto without a gap in the rays below first S.
Purchased from I. Kleinman, October 15, 1971.
Lovely Mint State 1876-CC $20
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906 1876-CC MS-61 (PCGS). Wonderful light yellow gold lustre with very minor surface marks. Very light hazy blue toning is visible on the obverse. Very slightly reflective fields provide light cameo contrast. Sharply struck and highly attractive. Typical of most Type II double eagles, the certified population drops very sharply in MS-63 quality, and in this case literally to 0. PCGS Population: MS-60 (36); MS-61 (19); MS-62 (13); none finer. Although this issue has the highest mintage of any Carson City double eagle, it is very rare in Mint State quality.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of October 1966, Lot 429.
907 1876-CC AU-58. A very pleasing example with nearly complete satiny lustre and very light abrasions.
From Stack’s sale of February 1972, Lot 933.
908 1876-S MS-62. Almost fully prooflike with rich yellow gold surfaces and moderate abrasions. A delightful example for your type set.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, January 10, 1968.
Lovely San Francisco $20 Group
909 Sextette of double eagles grading AU-58: I 1876-S I 1882-S I 1883-S I 1889-S I 1890-S I 1901-S. Each is brilliant and lustrous with attractive surfaces. A well matched grouping. (Total: 6 pieces)
910 1877 MS-62. Frosty light yellow gold with average design definition. First year of the Type III design, and one of 397,650 minted. This is an underappreciated issue in Mint State.
While handling large quantities of similar coins from a collection such as the Bass Collection, the opportunity presents itself to make comparisons and notice minor differences that may otherwise be overlooked. Through 1876, double eagles had obverse border dentils that were rounded with considerable separation between each two. Beginning in 1877, the obverse dentils are more squared in appearance and seem to be much more closely spaced.
From Superior’s sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February 1973, Lot 915.
911 1877-CC AU-55 (PCGS). This wonderful example has reflective fields with moderate abrasions. Sharply struck. A scarce issue with 250 to 300 known according to Doug Winter. Perhaps only two or three dozen finer examples are known.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, February 17, 1969.
912 1877-S MS-62. Light yellow gold lustre with moderate abrasions. An attractive example for the first-year type collector.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, February 7, 1972.
913 1878 MS-61. Very lightly abraded with attractive light yellow gold lustre and considerable aesthetic appeal.
Minor strike doubling is visible on the reverse.
From Superior’s sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February 1973, Lot 918.
Important Choice Mint State 1879 $20
Finest Certified by PCGS
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914 1879 MS-63 (PCGS). From a mintage of 207,600 coins and a rarity in choice Mint State or finer. A few very minor abrasions and other imperfections are visible, including a small surface impurity within the right side of the shield. The area surrounding this has acquired a deeper toning. David Akers described this date as "surprisingly rare" in choice or gem Mint State.
PCGS Population: 2; none finer.
Considerable doubling is noted on the reverse.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, June 6, 1973.
Desirable 1879-CC Double Eagle
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915 1879-CC AU-53 (PCGS). Light yellow lustre is subdued by deeper honey gold toning. Light abrasions are noted, less serious than expected for the grade. This is a rare issue, however, perhaps not as rare as the mintage of 10,708 might suggest. This example is among the top two dozen known.
At first glance, artifacts below the date suggest doubling of the digits, however, careful observation reveals that these are mere rust marks.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
