Another thanks to PCGS - this time for the featured article here on the 1850 Double Eagle
1northcoin
Posts: 5,008 ✭✭✭✭✭
Following this PCGS Website's featuring of Cory William;s article on the 1896 $2 [Educational] Silver Certificate is an article by Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez titled, "The 1850 Double Eagle: The First Circulating $20 Gold Coins". These articles are included in the "PCGS News and Articles" feature on this Collectors Universe website.
Having specimens of both of these items made them of special interest to me. Of particular interest was learning of the scarcity of both. In the case of the $2 reportedly less than 1,000 survive. As to the 1850 Double Eagle it is reported that only 101 mint state examples are known of today, with 100 from the Philadelphia Mint and 1 from New Orleans. (And only 4,000 combined 1850 Double Eagles in any condition.)
The recent article also includes a paragraph regarding 1850 Double Eagle Proofs suggesting the existence of "2 or 3 Proof 1850 Double Eagles." The one located in a Paris Museum is referenced with the implication that it was brought back to France by a Frenchman who lived in the United States in the 1840s. Actually, the Frenchman had returned to France prior to 1850 so it would have had to reach him be some other means as explained in my quoted posting from another forum thread:
"..... a photo of the 1850 Proof Double Eagle located in the Paris museum can be seen and compared as pictured in John W. Dannreuther's recently published book, "United States Proof Coins" Volume IV Gold Part Two at page 864. He agrees that it was sourced from Vattemare as described in above postings although he adds it is uncertain when and how he obtained the proof set in which it was included.
Here is a link to the subject thread originated by renowned numismatic researcher and author Roger Burdette. Included in the thread are some photos I posted of the subject Paris Museum that were taken by a family member who traveled there on my behalf to meet with the curator of the subject coin.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/993882/1850-proof-double-eagle-inquiry/p2
Below pictured is my own specimen of the 1850 Double Eagle to which the referenced "comparison" is suggested in my above posted quote.
Comments
Any 1850 double eagle is special. That is a cool object to study
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Wow.... very nice, and interesting information. What a treasure....Cheers, RickO
Did not see a link to the PCGS 1850 $20 article. Found it on the home page.
Brief but informative. Here it is:
https://pcgs.com/news/1850-double-eagle-the-first-circulating-20-dollar-gold-coins
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
looks polished< i would really want to see how they prove it was prior to strike
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set