Value of 1879 $20 Gold Coin

Value of 1879 $20 Double Eagle

The 1879 double eagle is almost always encountered with a sharp strike and, in high grades, vibrant satin or frosty luster. On the other hand, most survivors are moderately to heavily abraded from indifferent handling during transit to and storage in foreign banks. Although obtainable enough in circulated grades through AU, the 1879 is seen less often in VF and EF than such other early Type 3 Liberty Head double eagles as the 1877 and 1878. Indeed, most survivors are either lightly worn AU examples or Uncirculated coins grading MS-60 or MS-61. In MS-62 this is a scarce issue, while Choice and Gem Mint State survivors are very rare and seldom offered. Both PCGS and NGC report having graded a single coin in MS-65 _ the finest certified for the issue. Despite having a slightly higher mintage, the Proof 1879 is equally as rare as the Proof 1878 with fewer than 10 survivors traced.