1868 $10.00 PCGS EF45 CAC

Despite a low mintage of 10,630 business strikes, the 1868 is accorded just a small premium over a common date. It is certainly the most affordable Reconstruction era eagle from this mint but I find it fairly hard to locate and clearly undwervalued. This is a very appealing, high grade example with very original surfaces that show deep green-gold, orange and pale rose hues. A good deal of dirt can be seen on both sides. Great value for the savvy collector!

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

From the RYK Collection.

1868 $20.00 NGC AU53 CAC

The 1868 was a "secret" date for many years but its scarcity is now well-known amongst collectors of double eagles. In fact, it is the single scarcest Type Two double eagle from the Philadelphia mint. In my experience, it is seldom available above AU50 and when it is, examples tend to be very low end with poor quality surfaces and no originality. This piece appears to have originated from a European source as it has the dark, rich yellow-gold color with contrasting highlights that is found on coinss that have been stored in overseas valuts. There is a good deal of "meat" below the color and there are fewer marks than usual for the date and grade on the surfaces. If you are collecting this series by date, you know that there aren't many nice 1868 double eagles out there and with Choice AU pieces selling for close to five figures the importance of this nice examples gains in stature and importance. This is one of just two approved by CAC in this grade with six finer.

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.