LOT #3240 |
Current Bid: $16,000
1861-S $20 Paquet AU55 NGC....
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Description
1861-S Double Eagle, AU55
Scarce Paquet Reverse
Unusually Choice
1861-S $20 Paquet AU55 NGC. The 1861-S Paquet double eagles
are the only collectible remnants of a very interesting experiment
in U.S. coinage history. The reverse of the double eagle was
redesigned by Anthony C. Paquet, and dies were prepared to start
out the 1861 production year, providing a clean break with the
prior design. However, after the first double eagles were produced
in Philadelphia on January 5, it was determined that the rim was
too narrow, and production was discontinued immediately. This quick
cessation, combined with the possible melting of almost all
produced examples, have made this one of the prime rarities of the
double eagle denomination.However, the San Francisco variant of the Paquet double eagle is not quite as rare (though it is still scarce). As soon as production was halted in Philadelphia, word was sent to San Francisco to halt production. However, information transmission speeds were slow at the time, as messages had to be taken on horseback from St. Joseph, Missouri, the westernmost point for telegraph lines, to San Francisco. Therefore, the discontinuation message did not reach the Mint until February 2, by which point 19,250 double eagles of the Paquet design had already been struck in San Francisco. An estimated 200 of these coins survive today.
Most of these survivors are weakly struck, with significant bagmarks. The present offering avoids both fates, with a few minimal bagmarks on the reverse and inside the halo of reverse stars. A touch of the typical weakness exists on the uppermost strands of hair, but all of the reverse feather detail is intact, save for a slight rub on the head. In addition to the lack of abrasions and excellent strike, the present offering is also one of the finest known examples, bested by just a few AU58 certifications and a handful in the lower Mint State grades. Among the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. NGC Census: 16 in 55, 10 finer (4/26).(Registry values: N7079)
From The Fudd Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 269L, PCGS# 8936, GSID# 9901)
Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 0.9675oz
Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.
View all of [The Fudd Collection ]
Auction Info
2026 July 16 - 18 Summer FUN US Coins Signature® Auction #1394 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
July
16th
Thursday
4:50 pm CT
Auction Dates
July
16th-18th
Thursday-Saturday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
8 Days
21h 17m 30s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 17
Lot Tracking Activity: 29
Page Views: 368
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Premier Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 3001-3354) - 5:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, July 16, 2026.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
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Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions - Dallas
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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