Introduction:
There are two major varieties of the 1854 double eagle. The first and more common variety is the 1854, Small Date. Most of the 1854 double eagles seen are of this variety. The overall rarity of the issue is very similar to that of the 1852 and 1853 issues. Low-grade examples are readily available, and high-grade coins become increasingly rare. The Small Date is not greatly different from the Large Date; the photos of both varieties in this book should be helpful in accurate identification. Examples are also seen with recutting on the last two dig¬its of the date. Two examples have been certified at the MS-64 level, but the best specimen to cross the auction block in recent years has been an MS-62 coin. However, an MS-63 piece sold privately in 2004 for $26,450.
The Large Date variety of the 1854 double eagle is much rarer than the Small Date. The date size difference is not hugely dramatic, and the coin brings a large premium in any grade. This is an issue that an astute collector could possibly cherrypick, as many are unaware of its rarity. The wreck of the S.S. Republic offered an interesting random sample that showed the rarity of this issue. The 1854 double eagle was represented by 36 Small Date and 7 Large Date examples. The finest piece the authors have seen has been the coin illustrated here, which came from the estate of John Jay Pittman. The coin was purchased by Pittman in 1949 for $60 and sold in 1997 for $10,450. A prooflike example, which has been graded by PCGS as AU-58, was recovered from the S.S. Central America and sold in 2005 for $19,500.
Key to Collecting: Small Date 1854 double eagles, more accurately described as Medium Date, con¬stituted the larger part of the mintage this year. Most collectors are content to have but a single 1854 Philadelphia Mint double eagle. In the past, listings have not mentioned the date size and, indeed, the difference between the Medium Date (Small Date) and the Large Date is not dramatic.

The 1854 Large Date is by the rarest Philadelphia Mint double eagle minted up to this point in dine. However, in the marketplace not much notice is given to date sizes, and there is a good possibility of buying a Large Date for a "Medium Date price" if you look around here and there.

Aspects of Striking: Usually fairly well struck.

Die Data: Certification data are of little help, as some earlier were not studied for date size and were later lumped as "Small Dates." 1854 Four-digit Medium (a.k.a. Small) Date logotype: Date with 85 farthest apart, 1H spaced nearly hut not quite as close together as 85; 54 very close. Uprights of 1 and 4 both thick. Italic style 5. Various logotype positions exist. Breen-7167 is a Small Date with obvious repunching.
1854 Four-digit Large Date logotype: Date in larger numerals than the standard (Small Date) logotype of this year. Date with 18 farthest apart (but still quite close); 854 spaced about equally; top interior of 8 slightly smaller than bottom interior. Upright of 1 thin; upright of 4 thick. Italic style 5.