1850 $20.00 PCGS AU55

This is an attractive and interesting coin with a good back story. I bought it from a well-known wholesale dealer who had purchased it out of the 2011 ANA sale (see the pedigree below) expecting it to grade AU58. I can see why he thought this as the coin has superb deep green-gold color, nice luster and just a small amount of wear on both sides. I'm guesing the reason(s) it didn't grade AU58 are a series of very fine mint-made grease stains on the obverse from between stars seven and eight down into the upper left field through the coronet tip.In my opinion, this coin has better cosmetic appeal than 75% of all the 1850 double eagles that I have seen in AU58 holders and I love its color and originality. A pleasing example of the first collectible double eagle from the Philadelphia mint.

Ex Stack's Bowers 2011 ANA: 9658, where it sold for $6,900.