1854-S $20 MS63+ NGC....

Description

1854-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS63+
Rare Issue in High Grade
First S-Mint Twenty

1854-S $20 MS63+ NGC. The San Francisco Mint opened for coinage operations in March 1854, at the 608-610 Commercial Street location formerly occupied by the well-respected private coinage firm of Moffat & Company. Perhaps predictably, things did not run smoothly. A shortage of parting acids caused the Mint to limit production of the smaller gold denominations and concentrate on eagle and double eagle production, since those issues were in high demand (the gold dollar is an elusive issue in all grades, while the quarter eagle, and half eagle are both major rarities today). Accordingly, a workmanlike mintage of 141,468 Liberty double eagles was accomplished and the coins circulated widely in both foreign and domestic channels.

Few high-quality examples were saved for numismatic purposes, making the issue elusive in Mint State grades today. Fortunately, a number of well-preserved examples were recovered from the wrecks of the Yankee Blade, S.S. Central America, and S.S. Republic to augment the small supply for collectors. Doug Winter estimates the surviving population at 425-525 examples in all grades, with most examples seen in the XF-AU grade range. The 1854-S was undervalued for many years, but its price performance has picked up nicely in recent times, as new collectors have come to appreciate its scarcity and historic importance.

The present coin is a Plus-graded Select specimen, with sharply detailed design elements and an extensive network of die cracks on the reverse. The lightly marked orange-gold surfaces show only minor signs of contact, with vibrant mint luster on both sides. Eye appeal is outstanding. Census: 23 in 63 (2 in 63+), 10 finer (1/22).(Registry values: N4719)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 268U, PCGS# 8913, Greysheet# 9849)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 1.06oz
Mintage: 141,468

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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