The quality of strike varies greatly across examples the 1864 $20 double eagle, ranging from razor-sharp to exhibiting some minor softness. While the luster is above average for the type, the surfaces are usually plagued by heavy abrasions and the eye appeal is poor. Original and handsome examples of these Philadelphia mint coins are very desirable in today's market. Examples are scarce in all conditions, with the majority of pieces falling into EF and lower AU grades. Doug Winter notes that 17 of the coins recovered from the wreck of the SS Republic were Uncirculated, bringing the total Mint State population up to 25-35 coins in total, the finest coin being an MS-65 certified by PCGS. Just about a dozen Proof examples are thought to remain for today's collectors.

We wrote the following in our April 2022 Auction Catalog, saying: "Federal records report that 204,235 circulation strike double eagles were coined at the Philadelphia Mint during 1864, and due to the continued problem with hoarding -- which lasted until late December 1879 -- none were used in regular day-to-day transactions in the eastern half of the United States. It seems that many were exported, and to the extent that this happened, most were likely melted into bullion, as examples have not turned up in European bank hoards to any great extent. We estimate a surviving population of between 300 to 450 circulated pieces, most of which grade VF or EF. Dave Bowers, in his study of the series, estimated a Mint State population of only between three and five pieces. David Akers, writing in 1982, stated: "I have never personally examined a true Mint State piece, and despite the rather numerous auction records, have seen relatively few that could even be graded AU." Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth (2008) commented: "There were 42 examples of the 1864 Philadelphia issue on board the S.S. Republic, but this is very small in comparison to the large number of double eagle collectors." Not all of these coins were Uncirculated or choice."

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in April 2022 as part of the Fairmont Collection, Hendricks Set, where it realized $60,000.