1859 $20 J-260, BN (Proof)

P. Scott Rubin: The 1859 Pattern Double Eagle struck in copper with Paquet Reverse, Judd-260, is an extremely rare pattern considered a Rarity-8 (2 or 3 known). What makes it even more desirable is the fact that it is the earliest dated Double Eagle with the very popular Paquet Reverse.

There were two different hubs used to make the Paquet Reverse Double Eagles for regular issue coinage. The one used on all the San Francisco Double Eagles of 1861 Paquet Reverse coins and a different hub used for the striking of the two known Philadelphia 1861 Paquet Reverse coins.

This difference was discovered in 1988 by Michael Hodder when he was cataloging the Norweb collection for Bowers and Merena. Although slight the differences are obvious. On the San Francisco style Paquet Reverse coins the Eagle’s wing tips point between the TE of United and ER of America, also under the O of Of is thick Ray from around the stars, which is used on this Judd-260 pattern. On the Philadelphia style Paquet Reverse the Eagle’s wing tips point to the E’s in United and America and the thick Ray points to the left of the O of Of.