LOT #3681 |
Current Bid: $37,000
1913 $20 MS65 PCGS. CAC....
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Description
1913 Double Eagle, MS65 CAC
Significant Conditional Rarity in Gem
Attractively Toned and Well-Struck
Ex: Duckor and Akers
1913 $20 MS65 PCGS. CAC. Ex: Duckor / Akers. Frosty
antique-gold surfaces show rich luster with glints of
greenish-gold. A few stray marks are in keeping with the grade. A
near-vertical mark on the eagle's midsection is among the few
singular marks that may aid pedigree research. Strike is excellent,
with full detail on the face, significant separation on the drapery
folds, and sharply-defined feathers on the eagle. The reverse die
is cracked horizontally through the sun.Low double eagle mintages continued in Philadelphia in 1913, with just 168,780 examples produced. After experiencing the third highest Philadelphia production to date for the denomination in 1908, mintages of the denomination remained under a quarter million coins every year through 1920, except for 1910.
The difficulty of this issue is significantly amplified by its rarity in high grade. Low-end Mint State examples are available due to the discovery of some large hoards decades ago, similar to the other early Philadelphia Saints from the 1908 With Motto through the 1915. However, the hoards of the 1913 issue included few, if any, Gem examples, making them a great rarity today and the toughest among these eight early Philadelphia issues. In fact, its rarity in this state of preservation is comparable to dates that are significantly rarer overall. Gold coin expert David Akers made the following comments regarding this issue: "[A] 1913 Saint in MS65 is a definite rarity with perhaps only 14-18 examples known, making the 1913 a greater rarity in gem condition than the much more celebrated 1929, 1931 and 1932."
In higher grades, this issue is all but unavailable. Akers states, "I have neither seen nor heard of any 1913 that would grade superb MS66 or better although at least two or more such specimens exist of all the famous rarities of the series. There are only two other issues able to make this same claim, the 1915 and the 1920." PCGS Certification data agrees, with that service having only graded 19 examples in MS65, and 5 in MS65+, with one finer (9/25). However, when we sold this example previously in January 2012, these numbers were 10 and 0 respectively, indicating significant resubmissions, some of which resulted in half-point upgrades. NGC lists just one 65+ and one 66 above 23 examples in MS65 (9/25). Market appearances of Gem specimens are infrequent, with our Permanent Auction Archives listing just six PCGS and four NGC appearances of MS65 examples since January 2020.
The typical poor production of 1913 double eagles will explain the lack of high-grade survivors today. It is entirely possible that few would have graded MS65 when they were struck. If a grading service could travel back in time to 1913 and set up a grading room in the Mint, there would likely still be only a small number of MS65 or finer coins certified. In A Guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins, Dave Bowers recommends a careful search for the best possible coin: "Somewhat similar to the 1912, the 1913 requires cherrypicking in order to reel in a sharp one." Of course, the collector who has risen to the challenge of acquiring a sharp and appealing example could simplify the search by bidding on the Duckor specimen.
Ex: David Akers; The Dr. and Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Collection / FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2012), lot 4619.(Registry values: N7079)
From The Alymaya Collection, Part III.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26FN, PCGS# 9161, Greysheet# 10140)
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.
View all of [The Alymaya Collection, Part III ]
Auction Info
2025 November 13 - 14 US Coins Signature® Auction #1387 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
November
13th
Thursday
5:50 pm CT
Auction Dates
November
13th-14th
Thursday-Friday
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Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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