1856 $20.00 NGC AU53 CAC

Housed in an older NGC holder and graded many years ago; by today's standards I think this coin is closer to AU55 than it is to AU53. The 1856 is my favorite affordable "sleeper" Type One issue. It is scarce in the lower AU grades, very scarce in properly graded AU58 and rare in Uncirculated. This nicely toned example is original and very clean for the issue with pleasing green-gold and orange hues. There is a decent amount of luster seen on both sides and good detail at the centers. Great value at less than $4,000!

CAC has approved four 1856 double eagles in AU53 with only six finer.

1869-S $20.00 NGC EF45 CAC

Housed in an older NGC third generation holder and graded sometime in the late 1980's. By today's standards, I grade this coin AU50 to AU53. Clean and problem-free with a significant amount of luster showing on the obverse and the reverse.While not really a scarce date, the 1869-S double eagle is tougher to find with good eye appeal than many collectors realize.

CAC has approved three examples in this grade and twenty finer than this.

1865 $20.00 NGC EF40 CAC Gold Sticker

Housed in an NGC third generation holder (used in the late 1980's) and awarded a gold sticker by CAC. By today's standards, I believe that this coin grades AU50 or a bit better. There is some "freckled" coppery color in the lower obverse fields while there is a large amount of copper seen at the central reverse. Most gold coins with this degree of spotting have had these removed but old-time collectors appreciate the character that this gives to a coin. An interesting example of this popular Civil War issue.

This is the only 1865 double eagle in this grade that has been approved by CAC; thirty-five finer pieces have been approved as well.

1892-S $20.00 PCGS MS62 OGH

Old Green Label Holder. I believe that this coin remains an MS62 by today's standards. It is high end with good luster and color. Probably from an overseas source as there is a slight "Euro" appearance with contrast between the devices and fields.

1891-S $20.00 PCGS MS60 OGH

Old Green Label Holder. I grade this coin MS61 to MS62 by today's standards and it shows very attractive rich orange-gold color on the obverse and the reverse.

1889 $20.00 PCGS AU55 CAC OGH

Old Green Label Holder. I grade this coin MS60 by today's standards. Bright and very frosty with splashes of rich natural orange-gold color on both sides. The 1889 is a scarce and undervalued date. It gets little premium until MS62 but it is many, many times scarcer than a common Type Three issue, even in the lower Uncirculated grades. Good value.

This is the only 1889 double eagle to receive CAC approval in this grade; only thirteen higher have been approved as well.

1885-S $20.00 PCGS AU58 CAC OGH

Old Green Label holder. By today's standards, I grade this coin MS60 to MS61. Original and uncleaned with just a few scattered marks seen in the fields. Not a really common date but there is no premium for this issue until you get into the MS63 to MS64 range.

This is the only CAC example of this date in AU58; twenty-eight have been approved in grades higher than AU58.

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.

1872-S $20.00 PCGS EF45 CAC Gold Sticker OGH

Old Green Label Holder, CAC Gold Sticker. By today's standards, this coin grades AU53 to AU55. Lustrous with splashes of light yellow-gold color. It is pretty amazing that this coin was ever graded EF45 as it shows little in the way of wear! A pleasing example of this somewhat available Type Two san Francisco issue.