1868 $20.00 PCGS AU53

The 1868 is the scarcest Type Two double eagle from the Philadelphia mint. In fact, it is the hardest non-Carson City issue of this popular type to locate in all grades. When available, the 1868 tends to grade in the EF40 to AU50 range and is characterized by bright, excessively abraded surfaces. The present example is among the most original 1868 double eagles that I have seen. It has rich straw-gold color that strongly suggests that it has never been cleaned or dipped. There is some friction in the left obverse field and some marks around star eight on the obverse; the reverse is exceptional and grades AU58 on its own. There are no auction records for a PCGS AU53 example of this date since January 2008 (a coin that was sold by Bowers and Merena for $7,188) and I can't recall the last time I handled an example with the eye appeal that this piece shows. A special coin for the savvy double eagle collector.