The 1879 remains one of the more underrated Type Three double eagles from any mint. Its grade distribution is a bit different from the other early Philadelphia issues of this type. It is almost never seen below AU55, suggesting that it saw very little circulation.

Expert’s Corner: 1879 Double Eagle

This date has long been a favorite of mine, and it is an issue that I like very much in any grade from MS61 up. I suggest that the collector look for an example with as few abrasions on the obverse as possible. This is a Type Three issue with excellent growth potential in all uncirculated grades.

This is typically a well struck issue. Most 1879 double eagles show full detail at the centers including sharp hair strands on Liberty and full feathers on the eagle. The surfaces are nearly always very heavily abraded. It appears that a majority of the known 1879 double eagles come from small hoards found in Europe or other overseas sources. These coins were shipped loose in bags and came into contact with each other, leaving the surfaces riddled with deep, detracting marks. A number of these coins have notable mint-made spotting on the surfaces as a result of improper alloying. These spots are considered detracting only if they are located in overly-prominent locations such as Liberty’s face. 

Rarity and Market Availability of the 1879 Double Eagle

The coloration on uncleaned pieces is usually a nice rose or green-gold hue. Locating a coin with good eye appeal is extremely difficult. The small number of choice 1879 double eagles that are known tend to be off the market in tightly-held collections. It might be a number of years before a properly graded MS63 or better piece with clean surfaces is offered for sale to finicky collectors.

There were 30 proofs struck. This is an extremely rare issue with an estimated seven to ten known. Nearly all are in the PR63 to PR64 range, and there are only a few at this time with Deep Cameo or Ultra Cameo designation.

The 1879 double eagle is scarce in MS60 to MS61 and very scarce in MS62. It is rare in MS63 and very rare in MS64 and above. It is unlikely that any more than a dozen or so are known in properly graded MS64 to MS65.