The 1853 is lumped with the 1851 and 1852 double eagles but it is a scarcer Type One issue, especially in Uncirculated. In this grade range, the 1853 is seldom found above MS60 and a properly graded MS61 example is about as nice as this date generally comes.

This is a choice example with blazing mint luster and very pleasing medium golden color with some splashes of rose on the reverse. The strike is as full as one will see on an example of this design and the fields are cleaner than the grade might imply with some minor scuffing on the obverse and a very choice reverse that grades at least MS62 to MS62+ on its own.

The last PCGS MS61 1853 double eagle to sell at auction was Stacks Bowers 2011 ANA: 9673 which brought $8,338. The present example is, in my opinion, a much choicer coin for the grade and the market for nice Type One double eagles is stronger now than it was at this time a year ago.

If you are searching for a nice Type One double eagle for a type set or if you re collecting this great series by date, you would be hard pressed to find a nicer example for less than $10,000.

NOTE:  This coin has not yet been to CAC.