In 1862, the Philadelphia mint produced 10,960 eagles of which there are fewer than 100 known today. This date is most often seen in the EF40 to AU50 range and choice AU examples with original color and surfaces are very rare. I estimate that there are three or four 1862 eagles in Uncirculated, the finest of which is an NGC MS64 that brought $41,975 in April 2005.

This coin has some of the nicest color I can recall having seen on an 1862 eagle with fiery orange-gold and reddish hues contrasting natural green-gold centers. There are the usual abrasions seen in the fields on both sides but these are less obtrusive than usual and the eye appeal of this coin is simply outstanding both for the date and for the grade.

The last AU55 example to sell at auction was ex Stacks Bowers 2/12: 7657, slabbed by PCGS, which sold for $7,201. The present example is a much more appealing coin and the market for Civil War eagles is stronger today than it was two years ago.

This is one of the nicer examples of this date that I have owned and it will become a great addition to an advanced collection of Liberty Head eagles or Civil War gold.

CAC has approved two in this grade with one finer (AU58).