1859-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle PCGS MS61

We at AUCM are excited to offer an example of the elusive 1859-S Liberty head $20 gold Double Eagle. This coin is perfect for the discerning numismatist who wishes to add a true rarity to his or her collection. It could be part of a mint state collection of gold type coins, or one of a full run of dates and mintmarks of the Liberty head double eagle series (1850-1907).

      The creation of the double eagle design and coin saw conflict reach a fever pitch within the U.S. mint--between chief coiner Franklin Peale and mint director Robert Patterson on one side, and chief engraver James B. Longacre in the other. The engraver had been appointed through the influence of senator John C. Calhoun, whom Patterson despised. Plus, Peale was running an illicit private business making medals for private clients--on the mint's dime with their equipment--with the mint director's unspoken approval.  This included the Contamin portrait lathe, needed regularly by Peale for his illegal medal dealings. The lathe was needed to reduce models of new designs (of medals and coins) to reductions from which working dies could be prepared. As long as new coin dies were not needed, Longacre did not have to bother with Peale. However, when the designs for the new double eagle coin was ordered, things got complicated.

      Longacre requested that the mint hire an assistant engraver to help him. Patterson refused, only willing to engage outside work. That was not satisfactory to Longacre, who needed to supervise the work. Walter Breen writes, "Peale, with Patterson's tacit approval, began harassment." Longacre prepared a large model in wax and was told to give it to Peale to prepare a metal galvano that could be used in the aforementioned lathe. The model was destroyed in Peale's department. The engraver had purposely made a plaster cast of the same model and was able to use it in the lathe. However, the steel die had to be created in Peale's department. Longacre writes that "it unluckily split in the process." Longacre had to make two new separate sets of dies, using outside help. Both sets of dies prepared were rejected separately by Peale, for reasons hatched only to push Longacre to quit his coveted position at the mint. Harassment continued unabated. Patterson told Longacre a lie, that the Zachary Taylor administration had decided to remove him, and that he should tender his resignation promptly. However, instead of acquiescing the engraver traveled to Washington and saw Treasury Secretary Meredith, discovering during their conversation that Patterson had lied to the Secretary often about the creation of the double eagle design and dies. For example, when Longacre fetched a new double eagle from his pocket. Meredith was surprised, for he was told that the dies for it had been broken. Thus, Longacre kept his position and helped create the coin offered by AUCM at this time.