LIBERTY
HEAD (NO MOTTO ON REVERSE) TWENTY DOLLARS OR DOUBLE EAGLE
(1849-1866)
1859-S Double Eagle
1859-S
Double Eagle or $20 Gold
PCGS
No:
8928
Circulation
strikes Mintage:
636,445
Proofs:
0
Designer:
James Barton
Longacre
Diameter:
±34
millimeters
Metal
content:
Gold - 90%
Other - 10%
Weight:
±516
grains (±33.4 grams)
Edge:
Reeded
Mintmark:
None (for Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania) below the eagle's tail on the reverse.
Introduction:
With an ample mintage of 636,445 coins, the 1859-S
Double Eagle, a branch-mint issue, is the most common
double eagle for the year. Examples may be found in
grades of Very Fine to About Uncirculated without
too much difficulty. Most of these will be heavily
marked, as the production for the year was widely
circulated. There were 67 examples found on the S.S.
Republic, but most were About Uncirculated, and only
one attained a Mint State designation. Like most of
the coins of this era, the 1859-S double eagle is
very rare in Mint State, and just one or two are known
at the choice level. The finest example certified
to date has been a PCGS MS-63 coin, which sold at
auction in 2004 for $31,050.
Key to Collecting:
The 1859-S double eagle is easily available in circulated
grades, but in Mint State it is hard to find not being
represented in any significant hoards, either "treasure*
or from importations.
Aspects of Striking:
Usually well struck, although there are exceptions,
the last having lightness of obverse features. Certain
details less well defined than on 1850-1858 coins.
Die Data: Standard
four-digit logotype punch for this year (see description
under 1859 Philadelphia Mint). some with Belds unusually
basined, curving up in a noticeable manner toward
the rim. Medium Smintmark. Date and mintmark positions
vary.
Number of Appearances:
111 (25%)
High Grade Condition Points: 44
Average Grade: VF-36
Auction Records:
(8) Unc:
Kreisberg 9/80; New England 4/80; Ivy 4/77; ANA 1976;
Shapero 1971; Bell 1963; WGC 1946; Bell 1944
(28) AU:
Stack's 9/81, 3/81; NASCA 12/80; Paramount 11/80;
Stack's 2/80; NASCA 10/79; B&R 9/79; Stack's 9/79;
ANA 1979; Auction '79 (2); New England 7/78; Kagin's
5/78; New England 3/76; ANA 1975 (2); Paramount 5/75;
Superior 2/75; AAA 11/74; Paramount 11/74; Stack's
6/74; ANA 1971; DiBello 1970; Miles 1968; Kosoff 10/65;
ANA 1965; Golden 1962; Holmes 1960
(35) EF:
B&R 6/81; Stack's 3/81, 6/80, 12/79 (2), 10/79,
9/79; New England 3/79; Stack's 2/79; B&R 2/79;
Stack's 6/78; New England 7/77; Stack's 6/77, 2/77;
AAA 9/75; ANA 1975 (3); ANA 1974 (2); Pine Tree 3/74;
Scanlon 1973; Stack's 2/73; Gilhousen 1973; Stack's
6/72; Kreisberg/Cohen 9/71; Stack's 6/70, 3/69, 6/67,
4/67; Paramount 2/65; Baldenhofer 1955; Menjou 1950;
Flanagan 1944; Roach 1944
(36) VF:
Stack's 3/80, 2/80,6/79, 6/78; Pine Tree 1/78; Coin
Galleries 11/75; Pine Tree 6/75; Stack's 4/30/75;
Superior 10/74; GENA 1974; Stack's 9/72; RARCOA 5/71;
Kreisberg/Cohen 11/70; Stack's 9/70, 1/70; Kreisberg/Cohen
6/68; Shuford 1968; Stack's 5/68; Kreisberg 9/67;
Stack's 10/66; Bolt 1966; Paramount 3/66; Stack's
12/65; Paramount 10 65; ANA 1964; Walton 1963; Wolfson
1962; Cicero 1960; Melish 1956(2); Baldenhofer 1955;
Smith 1955; Farouk 1954; Kern 1950; Lee 1947; Atwater
1946
Comments: The 1859-S double eagle
is roughly comparable in overall rarity to the 1855-S,
1857-S, 1858-Sand 1863-S but it is more rare than
the other four with respect to condition. That is,
it is more difficult to obtain than the others in
high grade, particularly full mint state. Most known
examples grade only VFor EFand AU specimens are very
scarce. In uncirculated condition, the 1859-S is rare
and I do not recall ever seeing one better than Unc-60.
1859
HISTORICAL HIGHTLIGHTS
Springfield,
Illinois, Jan. 5. Stephen A. Douglas wins
second term in Senate, defeat¬ing Abraham Lincoln. Texas, Feb. 23. Governor Hardin R.
Runnels issues proclamation instructing Tex-ans to
avoid hostilities against Indians. Mississippi River, Apr. 9. Samuel
Clemens becomes li¬censed riverboat pilot on Mississippi
River. Springfield. Illinois, April. Abraham
Lincoln, in letter to editor T.J. Pickeit, confides,
"I must, in candor, say I do not consider myself
fit for the Presidency." Vicksburg, Mississippi. May 9-19.
Southern Commercial Convention meets to call for reinstilution
of legal slave trade. Utah Territory, July 2. Mail service
established to Salt Lake City by stagecoach. Colorado, September. Voters reject
proposed constitution for "Slate of Jefferson." Massachusetts, Oct. 30. Henry David
Thoreau speaks out on behalf of John Brown. Colorado, Nov. 16. "Claim jumpers"
lay waste to St. Charles, renaming it "Denver"
after first Governor of Kansas Territory. James Denver. Washington, D.C., Dec. 5. Charles
Sumner of Massachu¬setts resumes Senate duties
after recovery from beating by Representative Preston
Brooks of South Carolina. Salem. Massachusetts. Moses Gcrrish
Farmer demonstrates his electric incandescent light¬ing
with two lamps powered by wet-cell battery with platinum
filaments. Mount Vernon, Virginia. George Washington's
home dedicated as national monument. Cambridge. Massachusetts. Massachusetts
Institute of Technology founded. Mississippi. Legislalure resolves
to secede from union immediately if a Republican is
elected president. Ohio. John D. Rockefeller helps Negro
buy his wife out of slavery. Chicago. Approximately 2.000 daguerrotypc
studios have opened across the nation.
