1861 Paquet Gold Double Eagle Replica Tribute

In 1861, a very talented young engraver named Anthony Paquet had redesigned the reverse of the Gold Double Eagle coin, creating one of the greatest rarities in American coin history. His version was similar to the original reverse design but with taller, more compact lettering and a narrower rim which caused problems in production. Shortly after the new Gold Double Eagles went to press, Mint officials decided to stop using the new dies and went back to the original reverse. All Gold Double Eagles minted with the Paquet reverse were recalled. Most were melted down, but two specimens were knownto have been spared. The 1861 Paquet Gold Double Eagle has become a legend in the history of the U.S. Mint and American coinage. Over the past 150 years, the two surviving specimens have found their way into some of the most prestigious collections in history. In 2008, one of these incredibly rare and historic coins sold to a private collector for an astounding $2,500,000!