1920-S $20 MS63 PCGS. CAC....

Description

Fantastic Select 1920-S Double Eagle

1920-S $20 MS63 PCGS. CAC. While dates such as the 1927-D and 1933 are more commonly associated with the concept of the Saint-Gaudens melt rarity in the minds of most collectors, the first such issue was not struck in 1927 or even in 1924, but all the way back in 1920 in San Francisco. Though that West Coast facility struck substantially more than half a million pieces, most never left government grounds, and almost the entire mintage was melted when government stores of gold coins were converted to bullion.
While collectors knew the 1920-S to be elusive for decades, recognition of the 1920-S as part of the top tier of rarity among Saint-Gaudens twenties was slow to come, as noted by David Akers. In the Dr. Thaine B. Price Collection catalog, he noted that a slew of other issues were considered more rare in the years before European repatriation became a widespread practice. Though overseas discoveries greatly increased the known populations for many such issues, the 1920-S went almost unused in international trade, and as years passed without the announcement of a major find, the perceived rarity of the 1920-S grew dramatically.
Though the vast majority of the known population is graded Mint State, attractive examples can be hard to come by, and a degree of selectivity can go a long way toward securing a pleasing representative. Though this piece shows a measure of the issue's usual peripheral softness, particularly at the Capitol building, the overall level of detail is pleasing, and the yellow-orange surfaces are immensely lustrous with hints of lilac. Surprisingly appealing for the grade assigned with generally clean central areas and only a few abrasions of note close to the margins. Population: 13 in 63, 17 finer (6/08).
From the Stephen Stokely Collection, Part Five.(Registry values: N10218)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26FZ, PCGS# 9171, Greysheet# 10175)

Weight: 33.44 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

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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