1850-O $20 AU58 NGC. Winter-3....

Description

1850-O Double Eagle, AU58
Inaugural New Orleans Issue
Few Known Finer

1850-O $20 AU58 NGC. Winter-3. The inaugural coinage of the double eagle in New Orleans produced 141,000 coins, a substantial number for that facility, fueled by deposits of freshly mined gold from California. The issue was popular in the banking system due to its high face value and proportionately manageable size, but the vast majority of examples also experienced extensive circulation in the South. Most pieces encountered by collectors grade only in the VF to XF levels, and AU representatives are scarce and almost entirely restricted to the lower end of that range. Branch mint gold authority, Doug Winter, estimates as few as three or four true Mint State pieces are known, which is substantiated by the combined certified population of just six such coins, including resubmissions -- the finest of these grades just MS61, consistent with this issue's tendency to come heavily abraded. The Smithsonian Institution contains two 1850-O twenties, the finest of which is only XF40, per Garrett and Guth.

This nearly Uncirculated example is among the finest examples available to most collectors. Moreover, surface chatter is minimal, and a degree of semiprooflike mirroring in the fields heightens the eye appeal. The coin is sharply rendered with pleasing straw-gold patina. Census: 23 in 58, 8 finer (3/25).
Ex: The Duquesne Collection / ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2015), lot 4442.(Registry values: N2998)
From The Prospect II Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 268G, PCGS# 8903, Greysheet# 9843)

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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