Available Rare U.S. Coins
Pre-1933 Rare U.S. Coins
1862 $20.00 NGC AU53

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Current Price: $21,999
Rare AU53 1862 Double Eagle
The 1862 is the rarest collectible Philadelphia Type One Double Eagle and is also popular due to its Civil War issuance. While sometimes seen in the lower to medium AU grades, most examples are bright and baggy with zero originality and minimal eye appeal.
This is a lovely, high-end example with a 100% natural “Euro ” appearance, featuring deep russet overtones accentuated by darker color on the relief details. The underlying surfaces are lustrous, and the strike is sharp with all the fine details fully visible. There are some scattered abrasions in the left obverse field, but we have seen inferior 1862 Double Eagles graded AU55.
Since 2011, there are only four Auction Prices Realized (APR) for this date in AU53, and all are for NGC coins without CAC approval. The prices realized range from a low of $15,890 back in March 2014 to highs of $18,800 set in March 2015 and October 2015.
This date is not often seen in grades higher than AU53 to AU55, and higher-end AU’s are expensive. A nice AU53, such as this example, represents the best value grade for this coveted date, and this specific coin should garner some serious attention from Type One enthusiasts.
1863 $20.00 PCGS AU53

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Current Price: $20,899
Rare and Popular 1863 Double Eagle
The 1863 is the third rarest Type One Double Eagle from Philadelphia after the 1859 and the 1862. It is not often seen in the median AU grades, as evidenced by the fact that just three AU53s have been auctioned since early 2010, as well as four AU55’s since late 2012.
This nice AU example is lustrous and shows less wear than one might expect a large-sized gold coin from this era to possess. There are some typical bag marks seen on the obverse with most of these clustered in the center of the left field—the reverse is cleaner and grades a full AU55 on its own. Both sides show nice orange-gold color with some pale green shading beneath.
Only two PCGS AU53 1863 Double Eagles have been sold at auction since 2008, with the last APR reaching $18,800 in March 2017.
For most collectors, the sensible grade for this rare, coveted Type One issue is either AU53 or AU55, as a nice AU58 coin will cost around $30,000—if you can even find one.