MINTAGE: 2,087,155

More double eagles were struck in 1851 at the Philadelphia mint than in any year until 1861. Despite a mintage of slightly over 2 million coins, the 1851 is not as common as people might think. However, it is among the most available early Type One issues in high grades, and some choice pieces are occasionally offered for sale.

STRIKE: The 1851 is an issue which comes well-struck, but not as much so as the 1850. The central obverse is usually well defined with most of the individual hair strands showing separation. On some, the stars appear lightly impressed. This is due to lapping of the dies at the mint, which had the unintentional effect of removing detail. The center of the reverse is generally sharp, but some 1851 double eagles are weak on the denticles.

SURFACES: Many are characterized by heavily abraded surfaces. But there are more relatively mark-free 1851 double eagles than there are coins dated 1852 or 1853. Some show mint-made copper spotting or dark grease stains in the surfaces. These are not considered detracting unless they are extensive or poorly situated.

LUSTER: At least two types of luster are seen on this issue. The more common is satiny in texture with a delicate semi-granular finish. The second shows a thicker, harder, luster which sometimes is semi-reflective. One is not considered “better” than the other although I prefer the second variant.

COLORATION: The natural coloration for this date ranges from medium green-gold to a deep orange-gold, or even a lighter rose shade. It has become harder to find an 1851 double eagle with natural color but there are still enough coins in the market that the collector should be able to locate a nice piece without much effort.

EYE APPEAL: This date is generally found with above average eye appeal. On most, the strike, luster, and surfaces are acceptable. While there are some very unattractive 1851 double eagles in third-party holders, there are enough nice ones available that the collector should be able to locate one with relative ease.

INTERESTING VARIETIES: Varieties are known with a heavy date, and one on which the numerals are noticeably lighter. Neither commands a premium.

PROOFS: No Proofs were struck this year.

HOARDS: There were a total of 47 in the S.S. Republic including five in Uncirculated. There were 29 found in the S.S. Central America. And another 79 were found in the Baltimore Hoard, including a number of pieces which are comparatively choice for the issue. A significant number have been sold from the Fairmont Hoard with the finest being the PCGS/CAC MS62 sold as Stacks Bowers 4/2022: 5362 at $15,600. Groups of this date are still being found in overseas locations and being repatriated back to the American coin market.

BUYING TIPS: This historically significant date is very popular and it has collector appeal outside of the specialist community. Date collectors tend to look either for a nice mid-range AU or they splurge for an impressive Uncirculated example. Be patient and wait for a clean, well struck piece with nice color; these coins are still available and they do not command a huge price premium over a “typical” 1851.

AUCTION RECORD: A new auction record was set by the superb PCGS/CAC MS65+ which I purchased for $408,000 as Heritage 12/2022: 3681.

FINEST KNOWN:  The clear finest known is the PCGS/CAC MS65+ which I purchased for $408,000 in December 2022. It is now in the New England Collection. Another coin which is new to the market is Stacks Bowers 11/2023: 3227 which is graded MS64+ by PCGS. There are two or three known which grade MS64 but the best of these, in my opinion, is the PCGS/CAC coin in the Hansen-Crawford collection. The other PCGS MS64’s are a coin in an Old Green Holder which is ex Bowers and Merena 8/2010: 1811 ($34,500) and earlier Heritage 1/2004: 3078 ($29,900) and Heritage 1/2023: 3890 which brought $52,800.

RARITY:

TOTAL KNOWN: 3000-4000+

BY GRADE:

• Very Fine: 700-800

• Extremely Fine: 1300-1600

• About Uncirculated: 850-1250

• Uncirculated: 250-350

PCGS Number: 8904

POPULATION FIGURES: As of the end of 2023, PCGS had graded 14 in MS63, five in MS64, one in MS64+ and one in MS65+. There were a total of 152 in Uncirculated. NGC had graded seven in MS63 and three in MS64. There were a total of 91 in Uncirculated. These figures are inflated by resubmissions, especially in MS62 at PCGS. CAC has approved four in MS60, nine in MS61, 12 in MS62, and one each in in MS63, MS64 and MS65+ for a total of 28 coins in Uncirculated with CAC approval.

PERFORMANCE SINCE 2002: In 2002, this date was very inexpensive and a collector could obtain a nice AU example in the $750-1,500 range. In 2023, a nice AU will cost the collector in the $3,000-5,000 range.

COMMENTS: I continue to believe that the 1851 is a date whose true overall scarcity is belied by its relatively high original mintage figure. I have seen estimates that as many as 4,000-6,000+ exist (Bowers, p.71) but given the number graded by PCGS and NGC, I feel that this estimate is too high. While readily available in all circulated grades, I have always found the 1851 to be a tough date in properly graded MS60 and above, with MS62 and better coins being really rare.

LAST UPDATED: 12/26/2023