The 1872 Double Eagle has a mintage figure which is virtually identical to the 1867. The 1872 coin is more common coin in terms of the total number known to exist. The date is scarcer than the 1867 in Mint State but can be located in higher grades more easily than the 1868-1870 Philadelphia Double Eagles.

This issue is most often seen with a good quality of strike. It is possible to locate a specimen with well-defined hair, sharp stars and a crisply detailed reverse. It is not as easy, however, to find a piece which has clean surfaces. Many 1872 Double Eagles are very heavily abraded and examples with reasonably mark-free surfaces command a premium. 

The 1872 Double Eagle Quality, Appeal, and Desirability

The luster on this issue is usually good. Some pieces are Prooflike while others are very frosty. The frosty coins are generally considered preferable as these do not show bag marks as prominently as their reflective Prooflike counterparts. Uncleaned, original 1872 Double Eagles have coloration which ranges from orange gold to rose and green-gold. Pieces with good eye appeal as a result of minimal marks, good color and no signs of cleaning generally command a premium over typical quality examples. No significant die varieties exist.