Introduction:
The mintage of double eagles continued in large numbers at the Philadelphia Mint in 1853. The date is one of the more common Type 1 double eagles. The treasure of the S.S. Central America contained nearly 30 coins of the date, and the S.S. Republic held nearly 100 examples. Only about a dozen in those two groups are of Mint State quality. An NGC MS-62 coin from the S.S. Republic sold in 2005 for $10,925 at auction. One of the finest-known examples of the date was auctioned by the authors in the 1985 sale of the Jasper Robinson Collection. The coin was cataloged as gem Uncirculated (65/56) and realized $20,000. This was before the discovery of the S.S. Central America.
Key to Collecting: As the mintage of over two million pieces might suggest, the 1852 is plentiful today. Most are in grades such as VF and EF, with occasional examples in AU coming on the market, punctuated at longer intervals by Mint State corns. Among the latter are a few choice and gem pieces.
Die Data: 1852 four-digit date logotype with numerals 185 evenly spaced; top and bottom openings of 8 about the same size; 5 with upright slanting, italic 5, with upright of 5, if extended below, passing to left of knob (dif-fetent from the 5 used on 1850 ana 1851, which is only slightly slanting), knob close to upright, touching on deep impressions; 2 distant from 5, especially at bottom, ornate with curled top with knob, curled base; bottom of 2 slighty below bottom of other digits. Used on all dies for both mints. Various logotype positions and depth of impressions, deep impressions into the working die yielding "heavy" dates with the numerals seemingly closer together, the ball of the 5 (1852) touching the upright. One die has the logotype very light, giving the numerals wider spacing than usual. Sometimes the differences in logotype depth are dramatic, seemingly indicating the use of different logotype punches, but all seen have been from the same punch. The variations on such themes are virtually endless among double eagles of this era.
Doubled Date: Breen-7152. On the obverse the date numerals were given one blow of the four-digit logotype, then another, with the second blow being about 5% below the first. The result is a sharply doubled date, more so toward the end of the string of numerals, indicating a slight rotation between blows. This is one of the most dramatically doubled dates of its era. Usually repunching is delicate.
Dr. Jasper L. Robertson Collection (Mid-American, May 1985) Lot 1629: "1852 Gem Uncirculated (65/65). A sensational example of this date. Both sides exhibit full mint bloom, and are layered by rich, coppery -golden toning. Boldly struck, with surfaces that are nearly devoid of marks (rarely seen on coins of this denomination). Type One double eagles are among the rarest of all United States Type coins in Gem condition. Even average Uncirculated example are seldom seen. The present coin is one of our personal favorites from the Dr. Jasper L. Robertson collection, and it is certain!}- one of the condition highlights of this sale." Realized 520,000.
Gold Rush Treasure from the S.S. Central America (Christie's, catalogued by QDB, December 2000) Lot 81: "1852 AU-58 (PGCS).... Date logotype niceiy impressed, somewhat low, top of 1 twice the distance from truncation as bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils. A faint reverse die crack connects the tops of F AMERIC." Realized $3,350. Another: Lot 82; "1852 AU-58 (PCGS).... Date logotype lightly impressed, centrally located between truncation and dentils but shghtlv left, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. Raised horizontal die lines connect the fifth star to the den¬tils above. Crossbar of A in STATES broken at center, the leftmost piece very faint. Three die cracks are noted. The first runs from the dentils above M, connecting AMERICA at the tops. The second crack arcs from the dentils below Y in TWENTY to the bottom of the D in the denomination, then back to the dentils below the period that follows. The third crack connects the bottom of TWENTY." Realized $5,750.