LIBERTY
HEAD (NO MOTTO ON REVERSE) TWENTY DOLLARS OR DOUBLE EAGLE
(1849-1866)
1855-S Double Eagle
1855-S
Double Eagle or $20 Gold
PCGS
No:
8916
Circulation
strikes Mintage:
879,675
Proofs:
0
Designer:
James Barton
Longacre
Diameter:
±34
millimeters
Metal
content:
Gold - 90%
Other - 10%
Weight:
±516
grains (±33.4 grams)
Edge:
Reeded
Mintmark:
"S"
(for San Francisco) below the eagle's tail on the
reverse.
Introduction:
The 1855-S double eagle is mostly seen in Very Fine
or Extremely Fine condition. The mintage for the issue
was quite large, with nearly one million coins struck.
This is an issue that at one time was very rare in
Mint State. A large number was found on the wreckage
of the S.S. Central America. More than 300 coins were
found, of which nearly 100 were in Mint State, One
example is nearly perfect and has been certified as
MS-66 by PCGS. There were 57 examples of the date
found on the S.S. Republic. There are two distinctly
different mintmarks found for the issue: the Medium
S and the Large S. An MS-64 example sold privately
in the summer of 2005 for $29,000.
Key to Collecting:
The 1855-S double eagle is readily collectible in
grades such as VF, EF, and even AU. Mint State coins
exist, are very rare, and are mostly in lower MS levels.
Aspects of Striking: Usually well struck.
Die Data: Standard
four-digit logotype punch for this year. 12 obverse
dies and six reverse dies were sent to San Francisco,
but not all were used. Various date and mintmark positional
differences. Most have medium-size S mintmark, but
a few have a large S. .As noted earlier, varieties
with broken A (STATES) are plentiful among dou¬ble
eagles of this decade, although most cataloguers do
nor bother to mention this little anomaly.
Number of Appearances:
133 (30%)
High Grade Condition Points: 56
Average Grade: VF-37
Auction Records: (18) Unc: Stack's 9/81, 6/79 (2);
Ivy 7/77; New England 12/76; ANA 1976; Pine Tree 3/76;
GENA 1975; Scanlon 1973; Stack's 10/70, 1/70, 2/68;
ANA 1966; Stack's 9/65; Holmes I960; Kern 1950; WGC
1946; Bell 1944
(20) AU:
Stack's3/81, I2/79;ANA 1979; Superior6/79; New England3/79;
B&R2/79; Kreisberg/Cohen 10/78; New England 4/78;
B&R 4/78; Ivy 1/78; Stack's 2/77; ANA 1976; Pine
Tree 6/75; RARCOA 4/75; ANA 1974; DiBello 1970; Miles
1968; ANA 1965; Kreisberg 6 65; Ward 1964
(40) VF: Stack's 3/81, 3/80; Superior
1, 80, 10/79; Stack's 6/79; B&R 6/79; ANA 1977;
Stack's 6/77; New England 3/76; Coin Galleries 11
75; AAA 9/75; Stack's 4/30/75; Superior 10/74; ANA
1974; Gilhousen 1973; RARCOA 2/72; Kreisberg/Cohen
9/71; ANA 1971; RARCOA 5/71; Alto 1970; Kreisberg/
Cohen 11/70; Stack's 1/69; Kreisberg/Cohen 6 68; Shuford
1968; Kreisberg 9/67, 4/67, 10/66; Stack's 10/66,
2/65; Paramount 2 65; Bell 1963; Golden 1963; Wolfson
1962; Golden 1962; Melish 1956; Baldenhofer 1955;
Farouk 1954; Lee 1947; Atwater 1946; Dunham 1941
(6) Fine: New England 1/81; Superior6/77;Stack's2/71,2/70;
Menjou 1950; Neil 1947
Comments: The 1855-S Double Eagle is a fairly scarce
date that can be obtained without too much difficulty
in VF or EF condition. In AU it is very scarce and
in full mint state it is definitely rare. Choice or
gem quality "original" uncs are virtually
impossible to locate although an occasional "saltwater
unc" is available. Overall, this date is on the
third level of rarity among all S-Mint issues and
it is roughly comparable to such dates as 1857-S,
1858-S, 1859-S and 1863-S. It is not as rare as the
1854-S but it is certainly more rare than the 1856-S.
1855
HISTORICAL HIGHTLIGHTS
New York City,
Feb. 6. Anti-Slavery Soeietv hears Ralph
Waldo Emerson estimate that $200 million would be
enough to buy every slave's freedom. Washington, D.C., March 3. Congress
agrees to Secretary of War Jefferson Davis's plan
to import Egyptian camels to Southwest at cost of
$30.000. Massachusetts, Apr. 28. Segregation
banned in all schools. New York City, May 9. Brownhelm County,
Ohio, clerk John Mercer Langston, first Negro elected
to public office in United States, addresses American
Anti-Slavery Society. Kansas, August. John Brown joins
his sons and becomes leader of local militia (-»
Aug. 30, 1856). Seattle, Washington, Sept. 28. Puget
Sound Anti-Chinese Congress decides to frighten Chinese
into leaving state; (many do depart] (-• Nov.
3). Tacoma, Washington, Nov. 3. Led by
mayor, sheriff and deputies, a mob travels through
Chinese district. throwing Chinese out of town (-9). Tacoma, Washington, Nov. 9.U.S. troops
arrive to arrest residents who were involved in expulsion
of Chinese. California. Firsl lighthouse on Pacific
Ocean is built off coast of San Diego. Nevrtown Creek, New York. Dr. Abraham
Gesner makes kerosene from raw petroleum; promotes
it as patent medicine. Watertown, Wisconsin. First kindergarten
in United States, though German-speaking, founded
by Mrs. Carl Schurz. Salt Lake City. Brigham Young proclaims
thai a single drop of Negro blood renders a man unfit
to enter Mormon priesthood. United States. American Telegraph
Co. formed to transmit messages in Eastern states. United States. Frank Leslie's Illustrated
Newspaper begun. New York City. In seven years since
its printing. Stephen Foster's Cantpiown Races has
earned him only $101.25. New York City. My Bondage. My Freedom
published by ex-slave and abolitionistFrederick
Douglass.
