1861 $20.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

You could look through a group of fifty AU55 examples of this date and not find one as original or as choice as this example. It has rich, natural orange-gold color over moderately abraded surfaces with great overall eye appeal. An affordable yet special example of this popular Civil War issue.

CAC has approved 11 in this grade with 46 higher.

1861 $20.00 PCGS AU53

This coin has the naked-eye appearance of an AU58/MS61 but it has been net graded by PCGS on account of some light obverse hairlines. It is extremely clean with almost no abrasions and the naked-eye appearance is exceptional. The most affordable Civil War double eagle and a good Type One type coin.

1861 $3.00 NGC EF40 CAC

I find it interesting that a scarce coin like this sells for a very small premium over a very common date (such as the 1874 or 1878) yet it is literally dozens of times more rare. This evenly worn, nicely toned example is notable for its pleasing flashes of orange-gold color and, surprisingly, there is still luster seen in the protected areas. Only 5,959 were made and this is a popular issue in any grade due to its Civil War assocation.

This is the only 1861 three dollar gold piece in this grade to be approved by CAC; fourteen have been approved in higher grades.

1861 $20.00 NGC AU55

This date has two basic "looks." The first (and by far the more common) is frosty with tons of bagmarks. The second (and by far the rarer) is satiny with clean to very clean surfaces. This coin is clearly in the second category and it shows just a bit of rub on the high spots but almost no marks worthy of merit. An affordable Civil War double eagle with great overall eye appeal.

1861 $3.00 PCGS MS62

For many denominations, mintage figures in 1861 at the Philadelphia mint were quite high. But this is not the case with the 1861 Three Dollar as only 5,959 examples were produced. A few hundred examples exist in all grades with most in the EF45 to AU55 range. Nice Uncirculated examples are scarce and this date is rare in MS63 and above. This example is a pleasing light yellow gold with rich, satiny luster. The surfaces show the typical horizontal striations seen on all business strikes of this year but there are no marks of note and the strike is sharp. Last year there were only two MS62 examples of this date sold at auction. One, graded by NGC, brought $9,775 while the other, in a PCGS holder, sold for $9,488. Trends jumps to $16,500 in MS63 which makes this MS62 a good value for the Civil War collector seeking a special 1861 Three Dollar piece for his set.

1861 $3.00 NGC MS62

Of the 5,959 business strikes produced, it is likely that most were melted and the 1861 is a popular Civil war issue that is scarce in all grades. The typical example is found in circulated grades and is characterized by heavy mint-made striations. The slightly prooflike example has the naked-eye appearance of a Choice Uncirculated and has just a few wispy hairlines on the obverse. Both sides show attractive light green-gold and rosy orange hues and there are no marks of note. In the last decade, fewer than ten examples have appeared at auction in MS62 and this date becomes rare and expensive in MS63 and above. This would be a great time to put together a nice set of Civil War three dollar gold pieces as the coins are available from time to time and seem reasonably priced compared to other denominations of this era.

1861 $20.00 NGC AU58 CAC

The 1861 is, by far. the most common Civil war era Liberty Head double eagle. That said, it isn't easy to locate a lovely "super slider" like the present example. This piece has the luster and appearance of an MS62 to MS63 but it shows a trace of rub on the high spots of the obverse. A small nick on Liberty's chin serves as identification. If I were a date collector of Type One double eagles, I would buy a coin like this as my example of the 1861 and save my bigger expenditures for rarer, more interesting issues.