1857-O $20 AU55 PCGS. CAC....

Description

Underrated 1857-O Twenty, AU55

1857-O $20 AU55 PCGS. CAC. New Orleans in the years before the Civil War was one of America's most populous and fastest-growing cities. By 1840 the city at the mouth of the Mississippi, with 102,000 inhabitants, was the United States' fourth largest city; the largest city in the South; and the largest away from the Eastern Seaboard. The establishment of the branch mint at New Orleans in 1838 was a testament to the city's importance as a commercial center. However, the thriving economy of antebellum New Orleans, and the relatively limited mintages of both gold and silver coins (in contrast to the other two branch mints established in 1838, Charlotte and Dahlonega, which produced only gold coins) meant that most coins minted there were apt to be from small to moderate productions, with most survivors well circulated.
In the case of the 1857-O double eagle, it basks in the reflected glow of a great rarity, the 1856-O double eagle that is one of the important keys to the Liberty Head series. The mintage of the 1856-O is only 2,250 coins. While the production the following year rose to 30,000 coins, most survivors are well circulated, averaging only Very Fine to XF. (The average grade for NGC/PCGS-certified examples is Choice XF or a bit better.) The surfaces of this high-grade example have a pronounced green-gold color, and the striking details are strongly brought up throughout. A few abrasions are scattered over each side, and traces of mint luster cling to the devices. Population: 12 in 55, 6 finer (4/09).(Registry values: N2998)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 2694, PCGS# 8921, GSID# 9883)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 0.9675oz
Mintage: 30,000

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.

View Certification Details from PCGS

View Certification Details from CAC sticker