1929 $20 MS64 PCGS....

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Upper-End MS64 1929 Double Eagle
With Rich Reddish-Gold Color

1929 $20 MS64 PCGS. The 1929 Saint-Gaudens issue is the line in the sand, the point of no return between those (mostly) P-mint issues that are common in the series context--and those that are devilishly difficult.
As so often in this series, the original mintages seem completely irrelevant. It is the subsequent meltages that are crucial. Look at the P-mint issues from 1922 through 1928 along with 1923-D, all of which are deemed "common" and widely collected as type coins: The mintages are all over the place, from around a half-million pieces for the 1923 to more than 8.8 million coins for the 1928. Yet there is little market differentiation between them: At the MS64 level, all seven issues are priced within a couple of hundred dollars of each other.
Beginning with the 1929, however--a mintage about one-fifth that of the 1928 issue--the prices for the five issues from 1929 through 1932 (including two mintmarked pieces) escalate wildly over the earlier pieces.
David Akers writes of the 1929 double eagle:

"I have seen only a few really exceptional quality 1929 double eagles, coins that were definitely better than MS-65, but I know of at least two in prominent private collections that have strong claim to grading full MS-67. However, I have seen more super examples of the 1931 and 1932 than I have of the 1929, so it may come as a surprise to some that one is probably more likely to be able to find an MS-65+ or better 1931 or 1932 than a similar quality 1929."

The present near-Gem specimen boasts deep, rich reddish-gold color with hints of lilac around the margins. Outstanding underlying mint luster furthers the appeal. There are minimal abrasions for the grade, making the piece appear upper-end. The 1929 double eagle is always a sharply struck issue, and this piece is no exception, with the only visible weakness on Liberty's nose. Population: 80 in 64, 26 finer (8/10).(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26GL, PCGS# 9190, GSID# 10152)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 0.9675oz
Mintage: 1,779,750

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

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