1850 PCGS MS-60 CAC Sticker $20 Liberty Double Eagle Gold Coin

1850 $20 Double Eagle PCGS MS60 CAC

With the massive quantities of gold coming out of California - America expanded towards the western frontier.  It wouldn't be long that a new mint would be built in San Francisco. 

With the discovery of the massive quantities of gold, a new denomination was added to our roster of coinage - the impressive Double Eagle.  Technically, a single pattern example of an 1849 Double Eagles exists in the Smithsonian.  Some estimate that coin might be worth over $20 million dollars if it were ever to be sold.   It is truly the 1850 Double Eagle that collectors consider to be the first example of the coin.  Type I examples, the double eagles that were produced until just after the end of the Civil War, are known to be extremely rare in mint state condition.  This Philadelphia minted coin had a mintage of just over a million coins and PCGS has only certified a total of 1,460 examples in ALL GRADES.  

As one would expect with a CAC PCGS MS60 coin - it is a solid mint state example.  It's well struck, the color is warm and the details are excellent.  There is nothing remotely distracting and it is an overall impressive example of an important rarity.  Often, collectors focus on "First Year" issue coins and this is a great one for numerous reasons.  The Sutter's Mill "Eureka" gold finds and the Western Expansion of our nation are all embodied in this rarity.  This is certainly an important coin and in this grade, it is a condition census rarity.  The vast majority of the 1850 mintage of double eagles no longer exist today.  The surviving examples are heavily circulated, not eye pleasing, and most illustrate almost no detail.  This uncirculated example is certainly a nice cornerstone to a serious numismatic cabinet and a beautiful and historic coin.