1858-O $20 MS61 NGC. Variety 3....

Description

1858-O Twenty Dollar, MS61
Conditionally Rare New Orleans Issue

1858-O $20 MS61 NGC. Variety 3. The date is low and left, as usual, and the mintmark is high and slightly left of center above the N. A die lump occurs within the E in AMERICA. Only 35,250 double eagles were struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1858, and the entire mintage was dispersed into circulation. Over time, attrition and the outbreak of the Civil War took their toll on the circulating population. About 225 to 275 survivors exist today, according to Doug Winter, making this a more collectible issue than the ultra-rare 1854-O or 1856-O, but still many times more challenging than the first few O-mint twenty dollar issues. Mint State representatives are major rarities, with only five or six coins known. We have previously handled a Mint State example on only six occasions, including a prior appearance of the present coin. The auction record for this issue is held by the lone MS63 NGC coin, Ex: S.S. Republic, which we handled in our 2015 FUN Signature, where it realized $164,500. The present MS61 coin is slightly more abraded than that piece, but it remains within the Condition Census for the issue.

Lustrous yellow-gold surfaces exhibit remarkable design definition, nearly complete, in fact, with the exception of the first few stars and a couple of high points on the curls. Luster disturbances and minute flecks on each side have little bearing on the appeal or importance of this Uncirculated No Motto condition rarity from the fabled Louisiana branch mint. Census: 4 in 61, 2 finer (7/22).
Ex: Dallas Signature (Heritage, 8/2020), lot 4029.
From The John Franklin Donnelly Jr. Collection. (Registry values: N1)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 2698, PCGS# 8924, Greysheet# 9893)

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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