Rare Gold Coins From The US Mint
The Brasher Doubloon (intermittently after 1787)
Ephraim Brasher was a gold- and silversmith, who was granted permission to mint copper coins in New York State. He also minted a doubloon, with an eagle on one side and the arms of New York on the other, which came to be called the Brasher Doubloon because it was about the same weight as a Spanish doubloon. They were valued at $15 in New York currency. One of the surviving gold coins, which weighted 26.6 grams and was composed of .917 gold, was sold at auction in 1981 for $625,000. (There are also two known specimens called Lima style gold doubloons, dated 1742 but probably produced in 1786.)
Ephraim Brasher was a gold- and silversmith, who was granted permission to mint copper coins in New York State. He also minted a doubloon, with an eagle on one side and the arms of New York on the other, which came to be called the Brasher Doubloon because it was about the same weight as a Spanish doubloon. They were valued at $15 in New York currency. One of the surviving gold coins, which weighted 26.6 grams and was composed of .917 gold, was sold at auction in 1981 for $625,000. (There are also two known specimens called Lima style gold doubloons, dated 1742 but probably produced in 1786.)
1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
In 1933, President Roosevelt passed the Reserve Gold Act, which de-monetized gold currency, and made it illegal for private individuals to own coins or bars (unless they were coin collectors.) Before this law had been enacted, the U.S. Mint manufactured 445,500 double eagles. These were not distributed, and indeed, were melted down.
In 1933, President Roosevelt passed the Reserve Gold Act, which de-monetized gold currency, and made it illegal for private individuals to own coins or bars (unless they were coin collectors.) Before this law had been enacted, the U.S. Mint manufactured 445,500 double eagles. These were not distributed, and indeed, were melted down.
However, at least 24 of these coins were removed from the mint, perhaps by U.S. Mint Cashier George McCann. Although many were recovered by the Secret Service, one was purchased by King Farouk of Egypt - and exported legally to that country. When Nasser overthrew Farouk in 1952, his coin collection was sold at auction, including the 1933 double eagle. It reappeared in 2000, when a British coin dealer attempted to sell the coin in New York. He was arrested, but eventually proved ownership of the coin and was allowed to sell it at auction. The U. S. Treasury monetized the coin, making it the only legal-tender 1933 double eagle in the world.
1927-D Double Eagle
180,000 of these coins were minted by the Denver mint...only seven are known to survive. In 2005, one of the finest known of these coins, graded PCGS MS-66, was sold for $1.65 million, in a private treaty transaction during the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo.
1920-S Eagle
In 1979, a collector purchased a 1920-S Indian Eagle, "the single finest known," designed by Saint-Gaudens, for $85,000. When this coin was sold at auction in March, 2007 by Heritage galleries, it was for $1,500,000 plus commission.
1796 NS Quarter Eagle
Numismatist John West Dannreuther estimates that only 100 No Stars Quarter Eagles are known to exist. An uncirculated coin sold at auction in 2005 for $1,380,000. In 2006, Heritage Auctions sold one for $1,725,000.
Numismatist John West Dannreuther estimates that only 100 No Stars Quarter Eagles are known to exist. An uncirculated coin sold at auction in 2005 for $1,380,000. In 2006, Heritage Auctions sold one for $1,725,000.
1907 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle
Between 18 and 22 of these coins were struck in 1907. The first mintage of Saint-Gaudens double eagle, it took nine strikes to bring up the detail (some sources say seven). The Ultra High Relief was the first coin to break the $200,000 price barrier – in the "Ullmer Sale" in 1974.
Between 18 and 22 of these coins were struck in 1907. The first mintage of Saint-Gaudens double eagle, it took nine strikes to bring up the detail (some sources say seven). The Ultra High Relief was the first coin to break the $200,000 price barrier – in the "Ullmer Sale" in 1974.
There are many more rare gold coins on the market today, but these are some of the more popular specimens.