1861-S $20 Paquet AU55 PCGS....

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1861-S Paquet Double Eagle, AU55
Important San Francisco Emission

1861-S $20 Paquet AU55 PCGS. Anthony C. Paquet served as an assistant engraver at the Philadelphia Mint from 1857 to 1864. He prepared dies for several pattern varieties, including the famous 1861 Paquet double eagle that was struck in Philadelphia. One of the reverse dies was sent to San Francisco where it was used to strike a quantity of 1861-S double eagles, including this Choice AU example. In addition to the patterns, Paquet produced dies for several U.S. Mint medals. He also engraved dies for the first Congressional Medal of Honor. Paquet's work is typically identified through the distinctive letter punches that he employed.

Relatively little is known of Paquet. USPatterns.com reports: "The engraver is one of relatively few assistants at the Mint who never achieved the chief engravership position, but whose name is a numismatic byword today." He was born in Hamburg, Germany on December 5, 1814 and came to America in 1848 and operated a New York City engraving shop for a short time in the mid-1850s. The 1850 Federal Census for Philadelphia lists his wife, Louise, and six children. Anthony C. Paquet, whose name appears in many records as Anton Conrad Paquet, died on September 5, 1882. His death was reported in the Baltimore Sun on September 6, 1882:

"Anton C. Paquet, one of the most skilled engravers and die-sinkers employed by government, died today. He was 67 years of age, a German by birth, greatly respected and a man of high attainments. He was employed for many years at the Philadelphia Mint. He cut the famous Lincoln medal ordered by Congress. It was finished the night Lincoln was assassinated. Shortly after it was finished it cracked in the neck of the figure, the crack making the same course as the ball fired by Booth. All of the engravers in the bureau of engraving followed the remains to the depot tonight. The body was taken to Philadelphia for internment."

By the time word reached San Francisco to take the reverse die out of service, that branch Mint had coined 19,250 pieces with Paquet's distinctive lettering. A decision was made that the coins would not hold up in circulation due to the narrow rims on the dies. Doug Winter reports at Doubleeaglebook.com that the Paquet double eagle was "a mostly-forgotten issue until it was 'rediscovered' in the 1930's." The earliest mention in The Numismatist included a reverse illustration in the March 1937 issue.

This brilliant and highly lustrous example has trivial, grade-limiting marks that are typical of surviving examples of these large gold coins. A trace of rub on the design high points explains the grade. A small, curved mark below the left-facing wing will identify this example. As a whole, this lovely example will make a nice addition to a specialized double eagle collection. Population: 8 in 55, 9 finer (7/23).(Registry values: N7079)
From The Samuel Winans Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 269L, PCGS# 8936, Greysheet# 9901)

Weight: 33.44 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

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.

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