1863-S $20.00 NGC MS62 CAC

Most high grade 1863-S double eagles are from shipwrecks (primarily the S.S. Brother Jonathan) but this remarkable coin appears to have natural non-seawater surfaces and is very rare as such. It shows great overall detail with some of the hair not fully struck (as usual) but with bold radial lines on the stars on both sides; the surfaces are nearly free of marks and very vibrant with rich natural color that deepens at the borders. I handled a PCGS MS62 example of this date earlier this year (also with a CAC sticker) and it is hard to say which of these is better; suffice to say that both are Condition Census examples. The only significantly better 1863-S double eagle that I have seen in some time is Heritage 1/12: 5041, graded MS64* by NGC, that went reasonably for $43,125. Only three of this date have been approved by CAC in MS62 and none finer. To say the least, a very important opportunity for someone to really add to their Type One or Civil War era double eagle set.