1877-S $20.00 PCGS AU58 OGH

Old Green Holder. By today's standards, I grade this coin MS60 to MS61. A bit on the baggy side, as is typical for this issue, but original and very frosty with nice light yellow-gold color. This is the first Type Three double eagle from San Francisco and the 1877-S becomes scarce in MS62 and rare in MS63 or finer.

1877-S $20.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

Superb quality for the date and grade with a semi-prooflike obverse and a mostly frosty reverse which are both covered with lovely orange-gold and green shadings. This coin is about as close to being an MS63 as is possible and the dealer I purchased it from (one of the smartest in the business) told me he tried it multiple times in an attempt to get it into an MS63 holder. And he did so with good reason as a PCGS MS63 example of this date, if available, would be an easy sell in the $17,000-19,000 range. Heritage 6/12: 5281, also graded MS62 by PCGS and also approved by CAC, just sold for $7,475 and in my opinion it was not as attractive as the present example. A significant issue due to its status as the first Type Three double eagle from the San Francisco mint and a truly lovely coin for the date and grade.

CAC has approved four in this grade with none higher.