The 1852 is among the more common Type One double eagles in circulated grades. As with the comparable 1851 and 1853, it becomes scarce in the lower Uncirculated grades and it is rare in MS62 and above.

This highly lustrous example is notable for its rich natural rose and orange-gold splashes on the obverse and reverse. It shows a typical amount of abrasions for the grade but it is choice and original with a good sharp strike including fully defined radial lines in the obverse stars. A few marks on the throat of Liberty are worthy of description; the reverse is choice.

The last two auction records for MS61 examples of this date are as follows. Heritage 2/13: 4943, graded by NGC, sold for $11,163 and was not approved by CAC. Heritage 4/12: 6824, graded by CAC, was approved by CAC and it sold for $10,925.

If you collect higher grade Type One double eagles you know how hard it is to locate any non-shipwreck coin in Uncirculated, especially with PCGS/CAC certification. This choice, pleasing 1852 would be a great type coin as well.

CAC has approved seven in this grade with just five better.