1855 $20.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

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This is one of the nicest AU53 examples of this date that I have seen. It is very lustrous with nice orange-gold color and extremely choice surfaces for the date. There is one small reeding mark on the cheek that narrowly knocks this from an AU55 grade but the eye appeal is really exceptional, especially when one considers how "baggy" this date typically comes. A very scarce issue and great value at under $3,000.

1855 $20.00 PCGS EF40

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The 1855 is one of my favorite "sleeper" Type One double eagles. This choice, evenly worn example has nice even green-gold color and very sharp overall detail. The obverse shows some abrasions across the fields; the reverse is choicer. With current spot price at close to $1,800, this coin melts at a bit over $1,700. How can you go wrong buying such a scarce date at such a small premium factor?

1855 $20.00 NGC AU58 CAC

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Along with the 1856, the 1855 is my favorite "sleeper" issue among Type One double eagles. There used to be other dates I put in this group, such as the 1862, 1863 and 1866-S No Motto, but these dates have been discovered and are no longer affordable like the 1855. The present example is a delightful slider with nearly full mint luster in a hard, satiny texture as is typical for high quality 1855 double eagles. The color is a light green-gold hue and the surfaces are exceptionally clean with just a few tiny abrasions visible to the naked eye. In MS60, Trends jumps to $11,500 and if you can find a decent quality Uncirculated example (no easy feat, given the scarcity of this issue in Mint State) you will probably be spending in the area of $12,500 to $15,000. This is one of just two examples in AU58 (with one finer) that have been approved by CAC; the other (a PCGS AU58) brought $5,175 in Heritage's April 2011 sale.

1855 $20.00 NGC AU55 CAC

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Choice and original with abundant soft, satiny luster present below medium natural green-gold color. Unlike most 1855 double eagles, this piece lacks deep, detracting abrasions and there are just a few scattered scuffs in the obverse fields. The 1855 is scarce in all grades and it becomes very scarce in the higher AU range. Trends jumps to $10,500 in MS60 for this date and even if you can find an example in the lower Uncirculated grades (and this is not likely) you are going to have to write a five-figure check. For most collectors, this example will fit nicely into their Type One set.