1866-S $20 No Motto MS61 NGC....

Description

1866-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS61
Rare No Motto Variant
Condition Census Example

1866-S $20 No Motto MS61 NGC. Responding to petitions requesting acknowledgement of God on Federal coinage, a series of patterns were made in 1861 and in later years during the height of the Civil War. Various forms of the proposed motto for Congressional consideration were presented in 1863 and on April 22, 1864 a coinage Act was passed specifying the addition of IN GOD WE TRUST to the newly created two cent piece. A second Act dated March 3, 1865 allowed addition of the inscription on all gold coins above the three dollar denomination and on silver issues above the dime, as well as on the new five cent nickel denomination. While the topic was of high interest to certain public factions, on the West Coast the San Francisco Mint continued to strike No Motto double eagles and lesser denominations, utilizing the older No Motto dies. An estimated mintage of 120,000 double eagles were struck without the Motto. Many of those twenties were placed into circulation before the new dies arrived in March 1866. At that point, it is likely any No Motto double eagles left on hand were melted.

This standout 1866-S No Motto example is one of the few Mint State survivors of this historic and conditionally rare San Francisco issue. PCGS and NGC combined report a mere eight pieces at the MS61 grade and two MS62 examples, with none finer as of (1/25). The 1866-S No Motto twenties are notorious for heavy bagmarks and indifferent strikes, but this sharp Uncirculated example shows only a few modest marks and a notably sharp strike. Radiant mint luster survives throughout the pleasing orange-gold surfaces. Wide areas of unabraded surface exist on both the obverse and the reverse, easily overshadowing the few light marks on Liberty's cheek and a minor scattering of field marks. To our knowledge, this coin was last offered at Stack's Bowers August 2014 ANA auction, where it realized $188,000 as lot 13257. Almost ten years have passed since that appearance, and given the active market for rare-date double eagles we expect another strong showing when this splendid lot is called.(Registry values: N1)
From The Mississippi Collection of Double Eagles, Part II.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 269W, PCGS# 8945, Greysheet# 9906)

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.

View all of [The Mississippi Collection of Double Eagles, Part II ]

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