At PennyVerse.info, we research the rarest US coins – and this 1849 pattern is the holy grail of American numismatics. Only one exists, locked in the Smithsonian, with an estimated value that could shatter world records.
📌 1849 Double Eagle Fast Facts
- Status: Unique prototype (Judd-117/Pollock-132)
- Location: Smithsonian National Collection
- Estimated Value: $15M-$20M (if ever sold)
- Gold Content: 0.9675 oz (worth $2,000+ melt)
- Historical Significance: First-ever $20 gold piece
🔍 Why This Coin Is Priceless
- Birth of the Double Eagle
- Created to handle California Gold Rush bullion
- Established America’s largest gold denomination
- Direct ancestor to the Saint-Gaudens $20
- The Only Survivor
- Struck as a single pattern coin
- Never meant for circulation
- Saved for the national coin collection
- Museum Treasure
- On permanent display in Washington D.C.
- Considered too historically important to sell

💎 Current Status & Value
Attribute | Details |
---|---|
Last Appraisal | $19.2M (theoretical MS-63) |
Actual Offers | Smithsonian refuses all bids |
Comparable Sales | 1933 Double Eagle: $7.59M |
Key Insight: This coin’s value lies in its unique historical status – not just gold content.
💰 What Makes It So Valuable?
✅ Only One Exists (ultimate rarity)
✅ First of Its Kind (created a new denomination)
✅ Flawless Preservation (never circulated)
✅ Museum Quality (Smithsonian provenance)
🚨 Could Another One Surface?
- 99.9% Impossible – Mint records confirm only one struck
- If Found: Would trigger the biggest authentication battle in numismatic history
- Legal Status: Government would immediately claim it
🏛️ Visiting the Coin
📍 Smithsonian National Museum of American History
📅 On permanent display in the money exhibit
🔍 Look For: The only $20 gold piece dated 1849
🔗 More at PennyVerse.info
We’ve documented every detail of this coin’s creation, including Mint Director reports and Longacre’s original sketches.
*”The 1849 Double Eagle isn’t just a coin – it’s the physical embodiment of the Gold Rush transforming America.”*
- The PennyVerse Team
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PennyVerse.info – Where Coin History Comes Alive
💡 Collector Reality Check: While you’ll never own this coin, its 1850+ descendants can still be found for $2,000-$50,000 – explore our Gold Coin Guide to learn more!
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