1872 LIBERTY HEAD $20 MS63

CHOICE LUSTROUS SURFACES. TIED FOR HIGHEST GRADED AT PCGS. Despite having been produced in similar numbers (251,850 business strikes vs. 251,015 business strikes, respectively), the 1872 is rarer than the 1867 in an absolute sense. Although a fair number of AU coins have survived, most of these pieces are heavily abraded or possess other detracting features that prevent them from being described as choice for the grade. The '72-P is not among the rarest Type II Double Eagles in Mint State, but it is still more challenging to locate at that level than such other issues as the 1869-S, 1872-S and 1874-CC.