CONDITIONALLY RARE PCGS/CAC 1855 $20 GRADED MS61

The Fairmont hoard impacted the availability of the 1855 double eagle in circulated grades, but there were very few high grade examples of this date included. The 1855 remains a very scarce issue in Uncirculated with around 20-25 known, mostly in the MS60 to MS61 range. In MS62, this is a rare coin and I am aware of just three grading MS63 or finer; the best is the fabulous Crawford/Hansen coin which has gradeflated from MS64 to MS65+ at PCGS since it surfaced in 2006.

This is the single nicest MS61 example of this date that I have handled. Many 1855 twenties have somewhat grainy luster and are on the dull side as a result. This coin, however, is frosty and vibrant with splashes of rich orange-gold and pale lime adding to the outstanding overall eye appeal. A few light ticks in the left obverse field and a well-hidden scrape in Liberty’s hair keep this coin from grading at least a point higher.

Other than this exact coin (see below) there are no APRs for a PCGS/CAC MS61 1855 $20. In August 2021, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS/CAC MS62 for $20,400. There have been five APRs for non-CAC PCGS MS61 1855 double eagles since the beginning of 2022 with a low of $10,200 (11/2024) and a high of $15,600 (once in 4/2022 and once in 2/2022).

An exceptional example of an under-appreciated Type One issue.

Ex Heritage 3/2012: 4202 where it sold for $16,100 as a non-CAC PCGS MS61.

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