1852 Double Eagle (1852 $20) NGC AU58. Old holder. 1852 $20 Liberty Head, No Motto on Reverse, Double Eagle. At the time this coin was minted the United States was embroiled in an escalating struggle over states rights vs. federal authority that would lead ultimately to Civil War less than a decade later.

The California Gold Rush was in full effect and America would be forever changed. With that backdrop, the need to utilize the newly mined gold flowing in from the West resulted in a robust mintage making the 1852 issue one of the more common Type 1 double eagles. However, most of the surviving specimens have found the melting pot over the last 158 years and with the surge in golds popularity, the demand for numismatic gold pieces has skyrocketed.

The example offered here is especially choice for the grade. The devices are sharply struck and well defined. An abundance of frosty luster remains and only the very faintest touches of wear keep this piece from grading several points higher. Encapsulated in an older NGC holder, it is absent of major abrasions or distractions and has a terrific overall eye appeal. Historic and original gold double eagles such as this super slider are increasingly difficult to locate and warrant special consideration by the collector/investor.