U.S. Postal History and U.S. Gold Goins continued...

XF45 PCGS (# 26268303)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $3,440

ESTIMATE: $2,200

MIN. BID W/O BP: $1,700

CONDITION NOTES: Medium gold with some original crimson luster in protected areas, solid strike, very minor abrasion marks, couple tiny adherences on reverse

COMMENTS: The $20.00 Double Eagle coin was authorized by the Act of March 3, 1849, as a means to converted California gold into a medium of exchange. The first Double Eagle minted at Philadelphia for circulation is the 1850 (the unique 1849 proof in the Smithsonian Institution is a pattern). Philadelphia minted 1,170,261 for circulation in 1850. Despite the large number of Circulated pieces available to collectors, the demand for the 1850 has always been great. (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8902]

AU53 NGC (# 4496127004)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $4,940

ESTIMATE: $3,250

MIN. BID W/O BP: $2,600

CONDITION NOTES: Bright yellow-gold luster, some weakness in strike evident in stars, slight wear on high points, minor abrasion marks, from the New Orleans Gold Hoard

COMMENTS: 315,000 of the 1851 Double Eagle were minted at New Orleans. Mint State examples are rare, which makes About Uncirculated pieces very desirable. (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8905]

AU53 PCGS (# 82624051)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $4,940

ESTIMATE: $3,250

MIN. BID W/O BP: $2,600

CONDITION NOTES: Deep gold luster and detailed strike with all of the stars well defined, slight wear on high points, the fields have tiny shallow abrasion marks and there is one short mark on Liberty's temple, but this is remarkably choice for an AU53 grade

COMMENTS: 315,000 of the 1851 Double Eagle were minted at New Orleans. Mint State examples are rare, which makes About Uncirculated pieces very desirable. (Image) (image2)

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AU50 PCGS (# 35125026)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $2,400

ESTIMATE: $1,600

MIN. BID W/O BP: $1,400

CONDITION NOTES: Deep greenish gold with hints of crimson, dark patina on high points, strong strike, marks generally limited to abrasion in fields but one scratch on jaw

COMMENTS: The 1852 is one of the more available of the early Double Eagles, owing to the discovery of shipwreck pieces. (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8906]

AU50 PCGS (# 34730347)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $7,500

ESTIMATE: $4,750

MIN. BID W/O BP: $3,750

CONDITION NOTES: Crimson and yellow gold luster, remarkably strong strike with minimal wear, but marks on face and in fields, from the New Orleans Gold Hoard

COMMENTS: The New Orleans Mint produced only 71,000 Double Eagles in 1853. The coins circulated in the South and territory west of the Mississippi, and About Uncirculated examples are scarce. 1853-O pieces in AU50 to 58 grades are very desirable. (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8910]

AU50 PCGS (# 32939954)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $2,460

ESTIMATE: $1,600

MIN. BID W/O BP: $1,400

CONDITION NOTES: Deep gold with hints of crimson in protected areas, dark patina on high points, strong strike, a few deeper marks along rim and behind head, from the Granite Lady Hoard (PCGS)

COMMENTS: The Double Eagle mintages in Philadelphia and New Orleans were relatively low from 1855 to 1859, as the San Francisco Mint increased production from California gold. 364,666 Double Eagles were struck at Philadelphia for circulation in 1855. (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8914]

MS63 PCGS (# 34539790)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $7,250

ESTIMATE: $4,750

MIN. BID W/O BP: $3,750

CONDITION NOTES: Shipwreck S.S. Central America special gold case with "Pinch" of California Gold Dust (Bob Evans Signed Label), brilliant highly reflective proof-like surfaces with rose-gold highlights, some marks in field to left of bust, small marks on face

COMMENTS: Thanks to the treasure recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America, the 1857-S Double Eagle is available to numerous collectors (more than 5,000 were discovered). This Bold S variety (PCGS #670715) is reported in the PCGS Pop Report with 65 graded from MS 63 to MS66 (24 in 63 and 9 in 63+). (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 670715]

AU58 NGC (# 4200693004)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $2,690

ESTIMATE: $1,700

MIN. BID W/O BP: $1,400

CONDITION NOTES: Medium gold with traces of original luster, slight wear and a few tiny marks on face keep this one notch below Mint State

COMMENTS: Thanks to the treasure recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America, the 1857-S Double Eagle is available to numerous collectors (more than 5,000 were discovered). (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8922]

AU53 NGC (# 4294403061)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $2,460

ESTIMATE: $1,600

MIN. BID W/O BP: $1,400

CONDITION NOTES: Deep gold accented with ample original rose luster, dark patina on high points, strong strike, abrasion marks and a deeper mark on bridge of Liberty's nose, from the Granite Lady Hoard (NGC)

COMMENTS: Thanks to the treasure recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America, the 1857-S Double Eagle is available to numerous collectors (more than 5,000 were discovered). (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8922]

XF40 PCGS (# 32926049) CAC

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $2,320

ESTIMATE: $1,600

MIN. BID W/O BP: $1,400

CONDITION NOTES: Greenish gold with some original crimson luster in the protected areas, wear is evident but no distracting marks, from the Granite Lady Hoard (PCGS)

COMMENTS: 636,445 Double Eagles were minted at San Francisco for circulation in 1859. The S.S. Central America and European bank hoards did not yield many 1859-S pieces. 67 were recovered from the S.S. Republic, which sank in 1865. (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8928]

AU53 NGC (# 4308293033)

CDN/CPG® VALUE: $2,470

ESTIMATE: $1,600

MIN. BID W/O BP: $1,400

CONDITION NOTES: Deep gold and sharp strike, requisite marks for AU53, but none are distracting, from the Granite Lady Hoard (NGC)

COMMENTS: The 1861 was the first Double Eagle of the Civil War period, and 2,976,453 pieces were produced, the highest mintage of any pre-1904 Double Eagle. With the suspension of gold specie payments in December 1861, hoarding of gold coins resulted in a huge number of Double Eagles being salted away. Nonetheless, or perhaps because of their availability, these historic coins remain in demand by today’s collectors. (Image) (image2)

Get Market Data for [Coins 8932]