1859-S Double Eagle (1859-S $20) ANACS EF45. Struck during the first decade that the branch Mint in San Francisco was operational, the 1859-S double eagle is a relatively available coin, which is still a very historical issue. Located in the part of the country which was very sparsely settled little over ten years earlier, it had now become the place of largest gold rush ever encountered by mankind.

During the next decade, it had grown to thriving communities far away from the original thirteen states, and the mintages of the San Francisco Mint reflect this. In fact, the 1859-S double eagle is the most available issue of that year, having a much larger mintage compared to the 1859 and 1859-O double eagles. The present example is a lightly circulated original coin which has retained some parts of its original luster in the protected fields. Some light coloration is seen near the periphery, and looks quite pleasing in hand. Available at the same price level than the more common later dates, and very suitable for inclusion in a circulated type or date set.