The 1871 is the second rarest Type Two double eagle from the Philadelphia mint. It is not often seen in grades above AU50 and it is quite rare in Uncirculated with just a dozen or so known; the 1868 is the rarest P Mint double eagle with around eight or nine in Mint State. The finest known business strike 1871 is a PCGS MS64 which last sold for $60,375 in Heritage’s 6/11 auction.

This is a fresh, frosty example whose collector is suggestive of having been sourced from Europe or another overseas location. Both the obverse and reverse show rich orange-gold and rose colors contrasted by deeper hues on the high spots. This coin would grade at least MS61, if not even higher, were it not for scuffing in the obverse fields and a few small abrasions on the portrait; the reverse is choice.

The last slabbed MS60 example of this date to sell at auction was an NGC MS60 which sold for $7,475 in the 2007 ANA auction. Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS MS61 for $25,875 in their 2011 ANA auction.

Many years can pass in between offerings of an Uncirculated 1871 double eagle and, in fact, this is the first I have handled since 2010 when I owned a PCGS MS61. An important coin for the advanced double eagle collector.

CAC has approved two in this grade with just one finer.