How to Find an 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle

The 1861 Paquet Reverse double eagle exists in two very different tiers of rarity depending on which mint struck it. The San Francisco issue, while scarce, does occasionally reach the market. The Philadelphia issue is one of the rarest regular-issue United States coins ever struck, with only two examples known to exist.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, compare available examples, and create a wishlist alert when the right coin is not currently listed.

What makes the 1861 Paquet Reverse double eagle important to collectors?

Assistant Mint engraver Anthony C. Paquet, who joined the Mint in 1857, modified James Longacre’s original double eagle reverse with a redesigned shield, taller and more slender lettering, and a narrower rim. Mint Director James Ross Snowden ordered the new reverse into production at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco mints in late 1860. This history, and the die diagnostics that distinguish the Paquet reverse from Longacre’s original, are documented by PCGS CoinFacts and NGC’s variety references for the double eagle series.

The design didn’t last. Mint officials grew concerned that the Paquet reverse’s slightly larger field and narrower rim would cause striking and stacking problems, and ordered it discontinued almost immediately. New Orleans complied before striking any coins. Philadelphia struck a small number before the order arrived. San Francisco, farther from Washington and slower to receive the recall, had already struck roughly $385,000 in face value—on the order of 19,000 to 20,000 coins—by the time the February 1861 stop order caught up with it, per PCGS’s and Stack’s Bowers’s published mintage figures for the issue.

That gap in timing created two completely different rarities from the same design:

• Philadelphia (no mint mark): Only two examples are confirmed to exist today, making it, per PCGS’s ranking of U.S. coin rarities, the fourth rarest regular-issue United States coin. Both known survivors are in mint state. One, graded MS67, sold for $7.2 million; an MS61 example sold for $1.645 million in 2014. Both results were reported by Stack’s Bowers and Heritage Auctions and covered in the numismatic trade press.
• San Francisco (“S” mint mark): Roughly 100 examples are believed to survive, none in mint state—most fall in the Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated range, with accurately graded AU50 or better pieces considered genuinely scarce, per PCGS and NGC population data.

How to identify an 1861 Paquet Reverse double eagle

The Paquet reverse can be told apart from the standard Longacre reverse used on other 1861 double eagles by several consistent design features.

Compare the lettering and rim

Paquet’s lettering is taller and more slender than Longacre’s. The rim is noticeably narrower, and the overall reverse field sits slightly larger within it.

Count the shield lines and rays

The shield on the Paquet reverse has 16 horizontal lines, versus 14 on the standard Longacre reverse. The ray count behind the eagle also differs: 72 rays on the Philadelphia issue, 73 on the San Francisco issue.

Check the scrollwork

On the Paquet reverse, the scrolls bearing the motto separate visibly from the eagle’s tail and wings, a departure from how they connect on the standard design.

Confirm the mint mark—this is the single biggest value factor

An “S” mint mark below the eagle identifies the San Francisco issue. No mint mark identifies the Philadelphia issue. Given that only two Philadelphia examples are known and both are already tracked in major reference collections, any coin offered as a no-mint-mark 1861 Paquet demands extraordinary scrutiny and verification directly against the coins’ documented history before it should be taken seriously.

Treat the diagnostics as a set, not a single feature

Because the Paquet reverse is a distinct, die-based design rather than a minor die crack or blemish, a genuine example should match all of the documented diagnostics together — lettering style, rim width, shield-line count, ray count, and scrollwork — not just one isolated detail. A coin that matches on rim width alone, for instance, but not on shield lines or scrollwork separation, is not a confirmed Paquet reverse. When in doubt, compare directly against certified, published PCGS or NGC photographs rather than relying on a single diagnostic in a listing description.

Buying considerations

The San Francisco issue is the realistic target for most collectors

If your goal is to own an example of this design, the San Francisco Paquet—while still a five- and six-figure coin in most grades—is the version that actually appears at auction and through specialist dealers with some regularity.

Certification is essential at every level

Given the values involved even for the “common” San Francisco issue, buy only PCGS- or NGC-certified examples, and verify the certification number directly through the grading service’s website. Compare the holder’s photographs against the coin being offered.

Understand grading in this series

Most surviving San Francisco Paquets show real wear; a coin graded EF45 to AU53 is typical, and problem-free pieces at the top of that range carry meaningful premiums. Mint State San Francisco examples are exceptionally rare, since none are currently known to exist in that grade.

The Philadelphia issue is not routine dealer inventory

With only two known examples, both already accounted for in major reference works and past auction records, a genuine no-mint-mark 1861 Paquet reaching the open market would be a significant numismatic event covered by the specialist trade press—not something to expect from a routine search.

Suggested search terms and filters

Begin with a broad search: “1861-S Paquet double eagle,” “1861 Paquet reverse $20,” or “1861-S $20 Paquet.”

Then narrow by:

• By grade: EF40, EF45, AU50, AU53, AU55, AU58
• By certification: PCGS, NGC, or “certified 1861-S Paquet”
• By mint: confirm “S” mint mark for the more available San Francisco issue

If you’re specifically tracking the extremely rare Philadelphia issue, save “1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle” (no mint mark) to your wishlist rather than expecting it to appear in routine search results.

Availability and pricing notes

San Francisco 1861-S Paquet double eagles do appear at auction and through specialist dealers, though inventory can be thin at any given time—a search may show an example one month and none the next. Values run well into five and six figures even in circulated grades, with a meaningful premium as grade climbs from Extremely Fine into About Uncirculated. For current price levels by grade, check PCGS CoinFacts’s or NGC’s published price guides directly rather than relying on a fixed figure here, since gold-coin premiums shift with both the bullion price and collector demand.

The Philadelphia issue is not a market with routine comparables. Its two known examples have sold for $1.645 million (MS61, 2014) and $7.2 million (MS67), both results reported by the auction houses that handled them and covered in the numismatic trade press; confirm exact sale dates against those houses’ own records.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1861-S Paquet Double Eagle” to search participating dealer inventory for the more available San Francisco issue.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by grade, certification, dealer, and asking price.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. If the right example is not available, save it as a wishlist item with your preferred grade range.
4. Get notified about new matches. When new dealer inventory matches your wishlist, GetCoinHunt sends an alert so you can review the listing before it disappears.
5. Verify before buying. Confirm certification, compare the holder photographs to the coin, and review the seller’s return policy.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between the Philadelphia and San Francisco Paquet double eagles?

Only two Philadelphia (no mint mark) examples are known, both in mint state, making it one of the rarest U.S. coins ever struck. Roughly 100 San Francisco (“S” mint mark) examples survive, none in mint state, and these occasionally reach the market.

Why was the Paquet reverse discontinued so quickly?

Mint officials worried its narrower rim and larger field would cause striking and stacking problems in production. The design was recalled within months of introduction, and only San Francisco—slower to receive the order—had struck a meaningful quantity before stopping.

How can I tell a Paquet reverse from the standard 1861 double eagle reverse?

Look for taller, more slender lettering, a narrower rim, 16 shield lines instead of 14, and scrollwork that separates from the eagle’s tail and wings. Ray counts also differ: 72 for Philadelphia, 73 for San Francisco.

Is the San Francisco Paquet double eagle affordable for most collectors?

It is a genuinely valuable coin—running well into five figures even in circulated grades—but it is realistically obtainable through specialist dealers and major auctions, unlike the Philadelphia issue. Check PCGS CoinFacts or NGC for current price-guide levels by grade.

What has the Philadelphia Paquet double eagle sold for?

Its two known examples have realized $1.645 million (2014, graded MS61) and $7.2 million (graded MS67), per the handling auction houses’ published results.

Should I expect to find a Philadelphia Paquet double eagle through a normal coin search?

No. With only two examples known and both already documented, treat any such offer with serious skepticism and verify independently through the grading services before considering it credible.

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