1855 Wass, Molitor & Co. Large Head Gold Double Eagle

Coin Details

Auction Record

$558,125 AU53 04-23-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1855 Wass, Molitor & Company twenty-dollar gold piece with the Large Head variety is one of two head-size variants produced for the double eagle denomination during the firm’s final year of operations. The Large Head features a prominent, boldly rendered Liberty portrait that dominates the obverse. The twenty-dollar denomination was new for Wass, Molitor in 1855, as their 1852 production had been limited to five and ten dollar pieces. The addition of the double eagle denomination reflected the firm’s ambition to compete across the full range of practical gold denominations. As a terminal issue from one of California’s most artistically accomplished private mints, the 1855 Wass, Molitor double eagle holds particular appeal for collectors. The European design traditions that Wass and Molitor brought from Hungary are expressed with greatest confidence in these final productions.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. The Large Head double eagle is among the scarcer Wass Molitor issues. Approximately 25-40 examples survive.

Cross References

PCGS #10360; NGC #31162; Wass, Molitor & Co., San Francisco; Large Head variety