1879 $20 Metric Twenty Dollar, Judd-1642, Pollock-1842, Unique, PR64+ Brown PCGS....

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1879 Metric Double Eagle in Copper
Judd-1642, PR64+ Brown
Unique Die Trial, Important Pedigree

1879 $20 Metric Twenty Dollar, Judd-1642, Pollock-1842, Unique, PR64+ Brown PCGS. Ex: Simpson. Similar to that featured on the regular issue Liberty double eagle of 1879, but there are two significant differences. The obverse periphery is inscribed * 30 * G * 1.5 * S * 35 * C * 35 * G * R * A * M * S *, and the motto DEO EST GLORIA has been substituted for IN GOD WE TRUST within the reverse stars. Struck in copper with a reeded edge.

The design is nearly the same as that of Judd-1643 and Judd-1644. However, this unique pattern was struck first and differs slightly. Saul Teichman explains at USPatterns.com:

"This was actually the first struck of this design. This famous coin is actually the result of a die cutting error in that it is missing the period between the 3 and 5. This coin was struck on a copper planchet, the error noticed and the period was then added to the die. They then struck the gold and additional copper examples J1643-J1644/P1843-P1844."

The unique Judd-1642 copper die trial -- and that is what this represents, a genuine test of the dies -- has been out of public view for more than two decades. With its "provenance of staggering importance," as one cataloger once wrote, we would expect to see strong bidding from pattern collectors and double eagle specialists alike. The surfaces are deep mahogany-brown with blue-violet accents around the legends. Smooth and razor-sharp.
Ex: William H. Woodin; Waldo C. Newcomer; King Farouk; Palace Collections of Egypt Sale (Sotheby's, 2/1954), lot 1994; R. Green (7/1954); Dr. J. Hewitt Judd; Davies and Niewoehner Collection (Paramount, 2/1975), lot 644; Dallas Bank / Browning Collection (Sotheby's/Stack's 10/2001), lot 373; Ken Goldman.
Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part XI.

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 62021, Greysheet# 14926)

View all of [Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part XI ]

View Certification Details from PCGS