The 1871 Double Eagle has the lowest mintage figure of any Philadelphia Type Two Double Eagle. The coin is one of the rarest coins of this type and its low mintage figure has always made it a very popular issue with collectors and investors.

The 1871 Double Eagle issue is one of the best produced Type Two Double Eagles. The quality of strike found on most pieces is far above average for this design. Liberty’s hair may show some weakness but is still far sharper than typically seen on the Type Two San Francisco and Carson City issues. 

1871 Double Eagle: Surface Preservation, Luster, and Eye Appeal

Many 1871 Double Eagles show moderate to heavy bag marks in the fields. It is possible to find a piece with clean surfaces and these coins command premiums with collectors. The luster on 1871 Double Eagles is very good. Higher grade specimens show intense frosty luster with a somewhat satiny texture. A few semi-Prooflike pieces exist; these are generally rather heavily bagmarked. Original, uncleaned 1871 Double Eagles tend to display rose-gold and pale green coloration.