1926-D $20 MS63 PCGS....

Description

Glamorous 1926-D Double Eagle, MS63

1926-D $20 MS63 PCGS. As with so many later issues in the Saint-Gaudens series (especially the mintmarked coins, which tended toward lower mintages), the 1926-D suffered the usual fate of mass meltings, and the few survivors in high grade today are the product of serendipity rather than system. The mintage was small to begin with--only 481,000 coins--and the issue is now in demand and seldom seen, even in circulated grades.
The 1926-D likely shares some reflected glory from its first cousin, the 1927-D double eagle, which is the rarest 20th century gold coin by a country mile, although it differs from the 1926-D in crucial ways. The 1927-D is much, much rarer, but both were minted at the same mint, one year apart, and both saw smallish mintages that were afterward near-obliterated by melting.
The 1926-D, of course, is hardly in the same "impossible" category as the 1927-D, but most survivors today grade no higher than MS63, the grade of the present piece. Gems of the issue are extremely rare. As of (3/08) PCGS has certified only two dozen pieces in higher grades, with an additional handful of pieces in MS64 at NGC.
This glamorous coin offers radiant luster emanating from the surfaces on each side, with orange-gold surfaces that show a slight pinkish tinge. A series of small abrasions noted in the left obverse field, along with a few other stray contact marks, likely account for the grade. As with most examples of the issue, the Capitol dome is lightly struck, and some bluntness also shows on Liberty's feet and other areas near the periphery. On its own, the reverse shows fewer abrasions and would likely merit a finer grade. A nice example of this coveted issue. Population: 49 in 63, 24 finer (3/08).(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26GE, PCGS# 9184, GSID# 10182)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 0.9675oz
Mintage: 481,000

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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