1891 $20 MS64 Prooflike NGC....

Description

Finest Certified 1891 Double Eagle Rarity

1891 $20 MS64 Prooflike NGC. This is one of the finest 1891 double eagles to survive and is enhanced by the prooflike reflectivity in the fields. The total mintage for the year was 1,390 pieces for circulation, and this one was probably coined soon after the proofs were struck (if the same dies were used) or very early when the new 1891 dies had just been polished and prepared. A few double eagles of each year show the desirable mirror fields, and this feature quickly wore off the dies as more business strike coins were made. Rarely are the prooflike coins found with excellent surfaces as the delicate mirror fields attract bagmarks and quickly fall to much lower grades as compared to later business strike coins. There are a few scuffs on Liberty's cheek but this is a far nicer coin than commonly seen for any double eagle. This is the only mint state example graded by NGC with the prooflike fields (two slightly circulated coins have also been graded), and we note that no other pieces have been certified above MS61. PCGS has certified none above AU58, and aside from the present piece, NGC has certified only two pieces in Mint State, an MS60 and an MS61. An extremely important coin for the date collector or specialist, since it is most likely the finest known 1891 business strike. Referring to this coin, David Akers wrote in his 1982 Double Eagle reference, "I have seen only a few true uncs (three or four pieces) but one of them is a solid Unc 65 coin by the strictest grading standards. It is currently in a prominent Dallas bank collection."
Ex: Dallas Bank Collection (Sotheby's, 10/01), lot 111, which realized $80,500.
From The Richard J. Chouinard Collection of United States Coins, Part One.(#9016) (Registry values: N1)

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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