The
numismatic adventure can be enriched by acquiring groups of
coins in meaningful combinations. Sets of coins can run from
two pieces to many. In the areas of rare date and early silver
and gold coins we have established certain sets of special
interest. They include the first and last of an issue, type
sets, design sets, year sets, and those that are joined by
historical events such as the Civil War. The coins of each
set are specially selected for you and your collecting needs.
We are specialists in this
area and will expertly and confidentially help you assemble
a set similar to the one you see below, which is made up of
pieces from the US Rare Coin Investments’ archives.
We will cherry pick through millions of dollars of rare coins
selecting only the finest quality pieces for your collection.
A Set of 1850-O Double
Eagle - 1871-CC Double Ealge - 1886 Double Eagle
A three coin type set of
double eagles consists of Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 coins.
Many collectors and investors would like to own more than
a single double eagle, and they know that they will not
complete a full set. Putting together a type set is the
next best option. There are only three major design types
in the Liberty double eagle series, which makes it accessible
for most people who have an interest in acquiring these
coins. One of the best ways to get the most value would
be to choose special or rare coins as examples of the types.
Below are two sets, a more modest one and one made up of
rare dates.
The Liberty Head or Coronet
Double eagle was designed by James B. Longacre. He designed
the pattern for the twenty dollar double eagle in 1849.
It was produced because of the huge amount of gold that
came into the Mint from California. With the discovery of
gold at Sutter’s Mill in January 1848, the California
gold rush began. It led to an influx of miners and others
into the area. The vast quantity of gold produced led to
a need for a standard form of exchange. The double eagle
was the government’s response. They also felt that
the new denomination would be useful for large commercial
transactions and that it would facilitate foreign trade.
Longacre’s design
for the double eagle shows a Liberty head facing left, wearing
coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Her hair is tightly tied in the
back with two loose curls hanging down her neck to the end
of the truncation. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed
stars with the date below. Dentils are near the edge on
both sides of the coin. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle
with elaborate ribbons on both sides of the shield extending
from the top corner down to the eagle’s tail feathers.
The ribbons are inscribed, on the left E PLURIBUS and UNUM
on the right. The ribbons were added to the design to symbolize
the denomination since this was the first twenty dollar
coin. There is an oval of thirteen stars above the eagle’s
head and an arc of rays from wing tip to wing tip behind
the upper half of the oval. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is
in an arc above the eagle, and the denomination TWENTY D.
is below. The mintmark is between the tail feathers and
the N of TWENTY.
1850-O
Double Eagle - The Type 1 Double
Eagle. Here is a Type 1, Southern
branch mint, Choice AU, boldly detailed 1850-O Double
Eagle. The coin shows subdued mint luster remaining
in some protected areas.
The strike shows full details on the
centers of the stars and the design details of the
reverse. The eagle is sharp as are the dentils on
both sides of the coin. Light wear is present on the
highest points in keeping with the grade. The surfaces
are original and clean with no individually distracting
abrasion marks worthy of description.
1871-CC
Double Eagle - Type 2 Double Eagle.
Mint luster peaks out from the devices
of this lovely Carson City Type 2 1871-CC double eagle.
Some light abrasion and wear on the highest points
keep this coin out of the mint state category. There
are a couple of small contact marks Liberty’s
neck, the obverse field, and on the shield, which
are consistent with the grade.
The strike is strong on the reverse
but somewhat less so on the obverse. The 7 and 1 of
the date almost touch each other, which is a characteristic
of this date.
1886
Double Eagle - Type 3 Double Eagle.
This extremely rare, near-Mint State, Type 3 1886
double eagle has a sharp strike and shows significant
mint luster.
The sharpness of the strike is seen
in the centers of the stars, the lines of Liberty’s
hair, and the design details of the reverse. Most
often coins of this type have less distinct hair details
until the 1890’s when a design modification
was made. Just some light abrasion, in keeping with
the grade, prevents this coin from being a Mint State
piece. In the industry it is known as a slider because
it is so close to being Uncirculated.
