1879 $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle PCGS MS61 (CAC) Ex. Fairmont Collection

Formerly sold by Stacks Bowers for $6,600 on April 2022, Lot #5441, and described as:

1879 Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-61 (PCGS). CAC.

Very collectible grade for this better date Philadelphia issue in the ever-popular Liberty Head double eagle series. With its mintage of 207,600 this piece become scarce above the assigned grade of MS61. PCGS has graded 242 examples with the mint state grade of MS61 with just 92 finer. In CAC, there are 14 in MS61 with only 7 finer. The Collectors Universe price for this issue in MS61 is $5,500.00. This specimen is from the Fairmont Collection.

The Second Philadelphia Mint, where this great offering from AUCM was produced in 1879.

Below is the original write-up from Stacks Bowers:

Highly lustrous with a razor sharp strike, this beautiful double eagle is enhanced by vivid golden-apricot color. Mintage for this circulation strike Philadelphia Mint double eagle issue is 207,600 pieces, down more than 336,000 coins from the previous year's tally at this facility. Much of the mintage was sent abroad in banking transactions, although many were paid out at par in the next few years -- the first time gold coins circulated in East Coast commerce since 1861. About 500 to 600 Mint State examples of the issue are extant, mainly in the MS-60 to MS-61 range, and finer pieces are seldom available. The 1879 was a true scarcity in Uncirculated condition until the second half of the 20th century, when specimens began to flow back to America. Even now it is among the scarcer Type III Liberty Head double eagles in all Mint State grades, and the discerning collector would be hard pressed to improve upon this Fairmont Collection offering.

Provenance: From the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set.