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Lot
3118

1920-S $20 MS62 PCGS....

2009 February Long Beach, CA Signature US Coin Auction #1122

 
Sold for: $63,825.00 (includes BP )
Bid Source: Live: Floor
Auction Ended On: Feb 6, 2009
Item Activity: 8 Internet/mail/phone bidders
4,500 page views

Description:

Important MS62 1920-S Double Eagle

1920-S $20 MS62 PCGS. The mintage figure for the 1920-S double eagle makes another case for the maxim, "Don't believe everything you read." While there were 558,000 circulation strikes produced, the issue has been well-known since the 1940s as a difficult one. The reasons are not entirely clear, but the likely scenario is that most were stored in some long-forgotten bank vault, and simply turned in during the great Gold Recall of 1933. Garrett and Guth succinctly say, "No significant numbers have turned up from overseas hoards, and the few that remain are apparently here by chance."
The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. specimen was an MS63 uncertified example (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982, lot 1051), of which the cataloger wrote:

"A very important coin. Although 558,000 were struck, apparently most of them were melted, although the existence of worn pieces shows that probably a few thousand actually reached circulation. David Akers estimates that only 40 to 50 specimens in all grades survive, of which perhaps 12 can be called Uncirculated.
"The present coin is one of the most important twentieth century gold offerings in the present sale,"

High praise, indeed, considering the vast scope and quality of The Eliasberg Collection. Today the situation is little changed. There are a few dozen examples each certified at NGC and PCGS, but the average coin is just shy of Mint State, and examples remain formidable rarities today.
The present piece offers a good but not full strike, with softness on the eagle and the lower obverse, a trait most examples of the issue share. The light abrasions are undistracting and well within the confines of an MS62 grade. The orange-gold surfaces offer considerable luster for the grade. As important a coin today as the Eliasberg example was, more than a quarter-century ago. Population: 17 in 62, 29 finer (1/09).(Registry values: N7079) (#9171)

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The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens as Illustrated by the Morse and Duckor Collections
Revised Edition by James L. Halperin, Mark R. Borckardt, Mark Van Winkle, Jon Amato, and Gregory J. Rohan, with special contributor David W. Akers

The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens is an issue-by-issue examination of these two artistically inspired series of gold coins. Each date and mintmark is reviewed with up-to-date information, much of which has never been previously published. The book is based on two extraordinary collections: The Phillip H. Morse collection and the Dr. and Mrs. Steven L. Duckor collection.

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Guides and Pricing Information:


Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions

Lot Date Grade Service Realized
Auction 1152, Lot 4723 Sunday, February 6, 2011 62 PCGS $80,500.00
Auction 1114, Lot 2104 Sunday, August 3, 2008 62 PCGS $77,625.00
Auction 1152, Lot 4722 Sunday, February 6, 2011 62 NGC $54,625.00
Auction 1138, Lot 2805 Sunday, March 28, 2010 62 NGC $54,625.00
Auction 328, Lot 10877 Tuesday, July 29, 2003 62 NGC $28,750.00
View prices realized from this item in other grades (you must be signed in)
PLEASE NOTE: All prices realized reflect the final hammer price PLUS the buyer's premium in auctions that charge a buyer's premium. Each item has a notation at the top of the listing indicating whether that lot included a buyer's premium. All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. Please use this guide carefully and inform us of any inaccuracies.

Price Guide*

Grade Coin World
(Coin Values)
Numismedia
Retail
Numismedia
Wholesale
Numismedia
NGC (nmn)
Numismedia
PCGS (nmp)
PCGS
Price Guide
PCGS+
61 $60,000 $57,310 $45,850 $42,000 $42,500 $60,000 ---
62 $70,000 $71,880 $57,500 $54,000 $54,500 $72,500 $75,000
63 $105,000 $103,130 $82,500 $74,500 $75,500 $90,000 $100,000
*All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. No item may be returned or refused based on this information which is provided as a service to our customers. You should contact each pricing source directly to determine the accuracy of this information.

Population Guide

Service Grade Population in this Grade Population of Higher Grade Population in All Grades + Mintage Engraver
PCGS Not available from PCGS 558,000 Augustus Saint-Gaudens
NGC 62 18 28 84 -
CAC 62 2 7 13 -
*This information is provided and owned by PCGS. Its display and use are subject to the licensed agreement between PCGS and Heritage Auctions.

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Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, 1920-S $20 MS62 PCGS....


Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, 1920-S $20 MS62 PCGS....


Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, 1920-S $20 MS62 PCGS....


Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, 1920-S $20 MS62 PCGS....

We changed the way we image slabbed coins on February 1, 2010, in order to get a more accurate image of the coin. To get the sharper details and more accurate colors we have focused the lighting on the actual coin, which has caused the top of the holders to appear darker and milky. Please disregard the color of the holders when examining the images.

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