1882 $20 AU58 ICG....

Description

Appealing 1882 Double Eagle, AU58
Rarest Type Three Business Strike

1882 $20 AU58 ICG. The 1882 is the rarest Type Three double eagle in business strike form (571 pieces). Michael Fuljenz and Douglas Winter write in Type Three Double Eagles, 1877-1907 that:

"... it must be ranked among the rarest 19th century American gold coins in any series. The few remaining examples generally grade Extremely Fine-45 to About Uncirculated-50. Any 1882 Double Eagle which grades About Uncirculated-55 is extremely rare and only two pieces are believed to exist in Mint State."

Two grading services--NGC and PCGS--have actually certified four Mint State 1882 double eagles, the highest MS62. Indeed, those services have graded a total of 28 pieces in all levels of preservation (5/09).
The present ICG-certified AU58 coin displays attractive orange-gold patina imbued with splashes of mint-green on the obverse portrait. The fields are prooflike, as are those of virtually every 1882 business strike twenty. They establish notable contrast with the motifs, especially when the coin is rotated under a light source. A well executed strike delivers crisp definition to the design elements, including the reverse shield and eagle, areas that are sometimes soft. Distributed minute marks are visible over each side, but they are totally within the context of a large gold coin that has seen brief circulation.
Interestingly, Fuljenz and Winter say, "The great rarity of this date makes its eye appeal relatively unimportant. When examining a coin which is as rare as the 1882 Double Eagle, the collector cannot be overly concerned with eye appeal." That this particular specimen yields exceptional eye appeal makes it all the more special for the connoisseur of rare gold coins.(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26BE, PCGS# 8996, Greysheet# 9820)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 1.06oz
Mintage: 571

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.