1907 $20 High Relief SP68 PCGS....

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1907 High Relief Twenty, SP68
A Proof in All But Name

1907 $20 High Relief SP68 PCGS. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. The subject of the proof status of High Relief twenties has been contentious for many years. NGC states 'yes' and has published diagnostics of the pieces they will certify. PCGS states 'no' and will not certify any as proofs; however, this and one other coin are as close as they will come by giving those pieces Specimen designation. While we cannot make any definitive statement about the SP67+ piece, this example adheres to all the guidelines set out for proof designation for NGC proofs. To review, the NGC guidelines are based on the use of Edge 3 or the "Edge B-II" collar that was used to strike the Ultra High Relief twenties from March to April 1907 and again on December 31, 1907. Those diagnostics include:

A series of diagonal die lines that move upward from the left side of the collar segment between the S of PLURIBUS and the star.
A recut B in PLURIBUS, showing an initial impression partially impressed north.
A notched upper serif in the U in PLURIBUS.

Unfortunately, these characteristics are not visible because of the plastic tab that covers almost the entire word PLURIBUS. But the diagnostics extend beyond the collar and include characteristics found on each of the die faces. The most easily seen are:

A heavy die line that runs through the base of the Capitol dome.
Swirling die polish lines in the right obverse field, but most prominently include a pair of lines that resemble an upside-down V just below the bottom of the laurel branch.
Die lines that are visible within the raised portions of the rays of the sun on the reverse.
Heavy die polish lines in the negative space between the eagle's wing and neck, and along the periphery between 9 and 11 o'clock.
Strike detail is complete throughout, including the sometimes problematic area at the tops of the letters in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. As one would expect for a proof or Specimen High Relief, the surfaces display bright, thick, satiny mint luster. The numeric grade precludes any noticeable contact marks. There is one oval-shaped alloy spot that serves as an identifier for this particular coin, located just below the leg of the W in TWENTY on the reverse.

Roster of Important 1907 Proof Saint-Gaudens Twenties, High Relief, Wire Rim

1. PR69 NGC. R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection; Phillip Morse Collection (Heritage, 11/2005), lot 6529, $534,750; Tacasyl Collection (Bonhams, 9/2013), lot 1024, $573,300; Signature Auction (Heritage, 9/2020), lot 3815, $660,000.
2. PR68★ NGC. Capt. Andrew North Collection (as part of a cased set), displayed by Stack's at the 1956 ANA Convention; NERCG/Jim Halperin, sold privately via the Goliad Corporation in 4/1980; Stack's, sold privately as part of the "The Million Dollar Set" (Captain North) of 1907 coinage in 4/1980; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV (Bowers and Merena, 11/2000), lot 954, $57,500; Americana Sale (Stack's, 1/2010), lot 3643, $230,000; Pannonia Collection (Heritage, 9/2014), lot 3499, $282,000.
3. SP68 PCGS. Auction '81 (Paramount's section, 7/1981), lot 1464; Harry Bass Collection. The present coin.
4. PR68 NGC. 65th Anniversary (Stack's, 12/2000), lot 1535, $138,000.
5. PR67+★ NGC. Rod Sweet Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, 11/2004), lot 544, $149,500; Pre-Long Beach (Goldberg Auctions, 2/2010), lot 2534, $157,550; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2017), lot 4369, $146,875.
6. PR67+ NGC. Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 6/2020), lot 3307, $168,000.
7. PR67★ NGC. ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2007), lot 2067, $161,000.
8. PR67★ NGC. Southerly Collection (Bowers and Merena, 3/2009), lot 4013, $103,500; Pannonia Collection, Part II (Heritage, 10/2014), lot 5119, $129,250; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2019), lot 3960, $132,000.
9. PR67 NGC. J.A. Sherman Collection (Stack's, 8/2007), lot 3428, $149,500.
10. PR67 NGC. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2005), lot 30558, $143,750.
11. PR67 NGC. Baltimore Auction (Bowers and Merena, 1/2008), lot 628, $138,575.
From The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part II.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 28HM, PCGS# 908549, Greysheet# 10199)

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