1891 $20 MS60 NGC....

Description

1891 Twenty Dollar, MS60
Unheralded Absolute Rarity
Only 1,390 Pieces Minted

1891 $20 MS60 NGC. The San Francisco Mint carried the burden of double eagle production in 1891, with the Philadelphia Mint and Carson City Mint focused on other things (mainly, silver dollar production as encouraged by the Sherman Silver Purchase Act). Only a token mintage of 1,390 double eagles was produced at the Philadelphia Mint, plus 52 proofs. Carson City managed a 5,000-piece double eagle mintage that year, more than double the output from the Mother Mint.

Today, the 1891 ranks among some of the better-recognized P-mint Liberty double eagles in terms of rarity. It is scarcer than the 1859 in most grades and it is more difficult to locate in high grades than the 1862, 1868, 1871, and the 1873 Closed 3. According to mintage, the tiny 1,390-coin production of the 1891 is comparable to the rare Philadelphia issues of 1881, 1882, 1885, and 1886; Of these, it is most similar in rarity to the 1885 issue.

The 1891 double eagle was an unheralded rarity for many years. At first, it was unwanted because most collectors had a proof, and didn't need a business strike. Later, the issue was an afterthought, with collectors still coping with many better-known Philadelphia rarities from the 1880s. The issue only started to realize its potential within the past 20 years or so. It is estimated fewer than 100 examples survive -- and if the population reports are any indication, quite a few under 100 pieces exist once the multiple submissions are taken into account. Almost every coin of the issue is Prooflike, or partially so, because every coin minted was an early strike. There were no late strikes with such a small mintage.

The current example displays numerous abrasions, but the chatter is mostly shallow with no heavy marks, and representative of the grade. The busy fields and portrait are balanced by original, pleasing orange-gold color and excellent remaining luster. Prooflikeness remains, particularly on the reverse. A bit of softness on Liberty's hair is accompanies the otherwise sharp strike. The peripheral strike is excellent, with sharp stars and a high, bold rim. An angular mark on the neck truncation helps to pedigree this extremely scarce P-mint twenty. NGC Census: 2 in 60, 1 finer (1/25).(Registry values: N7079)
From The Mississippi Collection of Double Eagles, Part II.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26C2, PCGS# 9016, Greysheet# 9826)

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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