Opening Bid :
Current Bid:
Reserve Amount:

Notice: You are the current high bidder on this lot, but the next highest bid is within one increment. That means that any additional bids on this lot will outbid you. To increase your chances of winning, enter your highest maximum bid.

You are the current high bidder on this lot with a secret maximum bid of %s.

You are the current high bidder on this lot.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)

Your secret maximum bid of %s has been outbid.

Your secret maximum bid of %s does not meet the reserve.

You have been outbid on this lot.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)

Your secret maximum bid does not meet the reserve.
(Sign-In to see your maximum bid)

Category: All Auction Archive Items > Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles Switch to Old Search Feature

Previous Lot | Auction Home | Next Lot      Jump to Lot:
Lot: 2486
Auction: 1117   		1920-S $20 MS64 PCGS....
  • Track this lot. You are tracking this item ... updating ... (stop tracking)
  • Add to MyWantlist
 
 
 

BP - Buyer's Premium

A "Buyer's Premium" is charged in addition to the successful bid according to the rate defined in our terms and conditions.

Opening Bid

The opening bid is the minimum amount required to begin bidding, and is generally a percentage of the low estimate.

Bid Information

For your convenience, the bid information on this page automatically refreshes with the most up to date data so you don't have to refresh/reload this page.

Minimum Bid

Bid increments determine the lowest amount you may bid on a particular lot. Normally, bids must be at least one bidding increment over the current bid. However, podium, fax, phone and mail bidders submit bids at various times without knowing the current bid and must be on-increment or at a half increment (called a cut bid). Any podium, fax, phone, or mail bids that do not conform to a full or half increment will be rounded up or down to the nearest full or half increment. However, for Internet bids, these increments only apply to the current bid. Internet bids greater than one increment over the current bid can be any whole dollar amount. It is possible under several circumstances for winning bids to be between increments, sometimes only $1 above the previous increment.

Number of Bidders

This number represents the number of individual bidders prior to the close of Internet bidding on each lot. An individual who bids more than once is still counted only once. During the live session, only the winning bidder is included in this number, although detailed records are kept of all forms of bids.

Status

Reserve (If Any) Not Posted Yet:
Although many lots will not get reserves, this signifies that we have not yet posted any reserves to this entire auction. Reserves are usually posted approximately 3 days prior to the closing for Internet-only auctions, and approximately 7 days prior to the live session for Signature auctions.
Consignor Has Not Yet Submitted a Reserve:
Although the consignor's agreement allows a reserve on this lot, the deadline for submitting such a reserve has elapsed. If consignor submits a reserve post-deadline and the item fails to meet that reserve, we may charge the consignor a higher reserve fee.
No Reserve:
This lot is being sold without a reserve. (Note: By law, consignors may still bid under certain conditions, but they are responsible for paying the full Buyer's Premium and Seller's Commission if they do.)
Reserve Not Met:
A reserve has been posted on this lot, but no bids have met the reserve. The current bid has been set to the reserve amount, and the next bid will meet the reserve.
Reserve Met:
Reserves have been posted for this auction, and there is a reserve on this lot that has already been met.

What's This?

Our Auction Results Archives are not only the best resource for market research, but now you have the opportunity to acquire very rare items that may not be auctioned again for some time by making an anonymous offer that will make the owner sell. Items labeled "Buy Now" indicate that the owner has set a price that would make them sell.

Please note that the winner of this Heritage auction lot may or may not still own this item and may or may not be willing to sell. This service is free to the buyer, protects the identity of both parties, and allows offers and counter-offers. You will receive a response within 72 hours.


View Larger Image

Sold for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
Ended: Oct 23, 2008
  Printable Version of Prices Realized for this Auction
 
Buyer's Premium: 15% of the successful bid (minimum $9.00 per lot)
Description
Very Rare Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle 1920-S, MS64


1920-S $20 MS64 PCGS. A prized rarity in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series, the 1920-S holds a unique historical position in that assemblage. Before the United States entered the First World War, gold twenties actually circulated in the western part of the country. Coins from this period are more available today than many later dates, such as the 1920-S. The war brought inflation, with consequent rising prices in gold and other metals. Production of double eagles was halted in 1916 and did not resume until 1920. A large mintage of 558,000 pieces was produced at the San Francisco Mint that year, but the commercial role of the double eagle had changed. The big gold coins no longer circulated freely, and were seldom seen by ordinary citizens. Instead, the coins were kept in reserve by the government and the banking system. The coins served two purposes. Some were stored in mint bags by the government, and used to redeem Gold Certificates. Other coins were used as specie payments to foreign governments and banks. Private ownership of gold was essentially illegal after the Gold Recall Act of 1933. Most of the coins held in government vaults were melted in 1937, converted into gold bars, and transported to Fort Knox. The coins that were used in international trade largely escaped this fate, and many of them were found decades later in European banks. Enough circulated specimens of the 1920-S exist to suggest that a few bags may have reached circulation, but examples have never been readily available. Almost all of the mintage was melted. The 1920-S issue was the earliest date subject to this holocaust, and remains an absolute rarity today.
Collecting large denomination gold coins became popular for the first time during the 1940s. Some of the greatest collections of that era included a specimen of the 1920-S double eagle. One appeared in the Belden E. Roach Collection (Mehl, 2/1944), lot 262. Mehl's terse lot description reads, "Uncirculated, sharp, with full mint luster. Scarce." Similar brief descriptions were noted in the J.F. Bell Collection (Stack's, 12/1944), lot 986; and in the World's Greatest Collection (Numismatic Gallery, 1/1946), lot 1026. These early appearances helped establish the 1920-S as a rare and desirable coin, but it was the Dr. Charles W. Green Collection (Mehl, 4/1949), lot 877 that really put the coin on the map. Mehl's lot description expanded to eight lines on this occasion. He noted that Dr. Green had purchased the coin at the Bell sale for $160, and asserted it was, "One of the most difficult dates and mints of the Double Eagles to obtain." The Green sale had a dramatic effect on the collecting of double eagles in general. To quote David Bowers in A Guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins, "Collectors and dealers went wild, and great interest was focused on later-date mintmarked double eagles. It is likely that at least several dozen collectors decided to make this a specialty." The numismatic public became aware of the scarcity of the later-date double eagles for the first time, and demand for these coins has increased steadily until the present day.
In recent times, the rarity of the 1920-S has been studied by many numismatic scholars. Walter Breen estimated that less than a dozen examples survived, but this figure is demonstratively too low in view of current population data. David Akers considers the issue to be the seventh rarest in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series. In his 2006 book mentioned above, Bowers estimated that there were 45-60 circulated specimens extant, and perhaps 40-60 examples in Mint State grades. The current population reports from NGC and PCGS reflect a combined total of 25 examples in MS64, with only six finer. Clearly, at the near-Gem level, the date is rare. The two finest-known coins are the MS66 Duckor example, and the MS66 Eliasberg/Duckor/Morse coin. Aside from the MS66 Duckor coin and an MS65 in the "Dr. EJC" collection, no one on the PCGS Registry owns a coin graded better than MS63. There are only four coins currently graded at the Gem level, so trying to improve on the present coin's MS64 grade is a daunting challenge.
The present coin is a dazzling example of this rare and popular date. The surfaces display soft, frosty luster with a better than average strike. There is crisp detail on the berries in the olive branch, and the pillars of the capitol building can be individually counted, areas that are frequently soft on this issue. There are few surface marks for the grade, the most obvious being a planchet void near the eagle's beak that can be used as a pedigree marker. The surfaces are coated with an attractive, reddish patina that yields to olive at the rim. Outstanding eye appeal, rarity and historical importance make this a prize for the discerning collector. Population: 12 in 64, 5 finer (9/08).
Ex: Long Beach (Heritage, 6/2000), lot 7702; Philadelphia 2000 (Heritage, 8/2000), lot 7599; Benson II (Goldberg, 2/2002), lot 2271.

(Registry values: N10218) (#9171)

Auction Name: 2008 October Dallas, TX Signature US Coin Auction #1117
Description: Heritage Numismatic Auctions offers U.S. and World coins, medals, and tokens in our Signature Auctions & Final Session Sales, held in conjunction with some of the largest numismatic conventions. These sales feature award-winning cataloging and photography. Call or e-mail one of our Consignment Directors to learn about selling through Heritage.
Auction Type: Signature: !! Heritage Live: After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)

This lot is in:  Signature Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live) (lots 1-3154)
Internet bidding ends at 10:00PM CT the night before the floor session for this lot. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.

Item Activity: 8 Internet/mail bidders, 1,512 page views


The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens: as Illustrated by the Phillip H. Morse Collection
By James L. Halperin, Mark Van Winkle, Jon Amato and Gregory J. Rohan
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 the extraordinary collection of Phillip H. Morse. When Morse's collection was sold in November 2005 it brought $19.2 million with many records broken for both rare and common coins.
Order Now! Just $75


Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions
Lot Date Grade Service Realized
Auction 1129, Lot 1950 Sunday, September 13, 2009 64 PCGS $132,250.00
Auction 1128, Lot 1347 Sunday, August 2, 2009 64 PCGS $138,000.00
Auction 422, Lot 3287 Saturday, January 6, 2007 64 PCGS $138,000.00
Auction 392, Lot 6642 Thursday, November 3, 2005 64 PCGS $120,750.00
Auction 308, Lot 9326 Saturday, January 11, 2003 64 NGC $43,700.00
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. Example: A item that sells with a final hammer price of $100 and a 15% buyer's premium will display with a price realized of $115. 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.

Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions
Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Price Guide
Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Population Guide
Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Find Auction Prices for Comparable Items
Heritage Auction Archives

Prices realized from past auction lots.
Great valuation tool!

Photographs

Sign-in or Join (free & quick) to see the full image

Previous Lot | Auction Home | Next Lot      Jump to Lot:
Go to Top


Add Item to MyWantList™
Description Grading Service Low Grade High Grade  

Please Wait

Loading.......

Heritage delivers Value - $694,500,693 sold at auction and in private treaty sales over the past 12 months.

Our 265,587 Coin bidder-members and 480,027 Heritage bidder-members overall (from 164 countries) enjoy all these free benefits:

  1. Bid on-line
  2. Free Collector newsletter
  3. Want List with instant e-mail notifications
  4. Auction Archives (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
  5. Hall of Fame
  6. Reduced auction
    commissions when
    you resell your
    winnings 

Members Sign In

Free Newsletter and Announcements!

Quality Consignments Wanted

Consign to the 2010 June Long Beach, CA Signature World Coin Auction.

We expect to have one of our Consignment Directors visiting your area soon. Please call to arrange an appointment.

E-mail Bob Marino or call
1-800-872-6467 x1374

Video Video: Why Consign?

View traffic of HA.com vs. other auctions on Compete.com

In The News

sss
Cross Promotion

Don't miss out!
Get e-mail notifications in all of your areas of interest.