1852

Philadelphia struck 2,053,026 double eagles in 1852, narrowly trailing the 2,087,155 1851 figure but still reaching the second-highest mintage of the early Type I decade. Together, 1851 and 1852 form the twin peak of pre-1860 Philadelphia output, accounting for over 4 million double eagles between them and reflecting the continued flow of California Gold Rush placer bullion arriving at the parent mint for conversion to coin. The 1852 production paired with a 190,000-piece 1852-O issue from New Orleans, which itself trailed the 315,000 1851-O figure as O-mint production began its multi-year decline. The design carries forward unchanged from the 1850-1851 issues: Liberty Head obverse with thirteen stars and date, heraldic eagle reverse with TWENTY D., reeded edge, Longacre's JBL initials on the bust truncation. By 1853 the Philadelphia output dropped to 1.26 million coins as California placer supply began its gradual exhaustion.

Strike quality on 1852 Philadelphia is generally good, with crisp obverse stars and full coronet detail on most well-preserved examples. Late-die-state coins show some softness in Liberty's hair detail and in the eagle's central shield and breast, characteristic of the high-volume 1851-1852 production runs. Bag marks on obverse fields are routine; the coins moved in canvas-bag bulk reserves rather than circulating individually, and storage contact accounts for most surface marks observed on Mint State examples. Wear on circulated coins concentrates on Liberty's hair above the ear, the coronet, and the eagle's central shield and breast feathers. Counterfeit exposure is a documented concern for early Type I dates; PCGS or NGC certification is the standard authentication path for any 1852 priced above bullion floor.

Market position for 1852 Philadelphia is essentially interchangeable with 1851 Philadelphia at every grade tier, reflecting the comparable mintages and survival profiles of the two issues. Pricing through AU runs in the mid four figures, MS60 through MS62 reaches the mid five-figure range, and MS63 sits near $30,000. MS64 and finer examples are condition rarities for any Type I date, and gem grades trade at registry-set premiums. European bank hoard returns have supplied most of the surviving Mint State population, repatriated to the U.S. market over the second half of the twentieth century. For type-set collectors, 1852 functions as one of the practical Type I representative options alongside 1850 and 1851 Philadelphia. For date-and-mint set builders, it is a routine acquisition, typically handled at MS62 or MS63 where availability and pricing converge favorably. Acquisition is certified only at this unit value. For the broader context of the early Type I production peak and the Gold Rush authorization, see the Liberty Head Gold Double Eagles history article.