1914-S $20 MS67 NGC....

Description

Impeccably Preserved 1914-S Double Eagle
The Finest Certified, Superb Gem

1914-S $20 MS67 NGC. With one exception, no 1914-S has been certified by either NGC or PCGS above MS66. That exception is the present coin, which stands alone as the single finest certified. The 1914-S has the highest mintage of any issue from the teens, but few collectors even considered setting aside examples of such a high denomination, aside from Philadelphia Mint proofs and the highly popular High Relief issue.
A sizeable majority of 1914-S twenties were eventually melted, particularly after the 1933 gold recall. However, hard money advocates also acquired quantities, many of which came from foreign bank vault hoards, which have been widely disbursed in recent decades. Those pieces had one thing in common: bagmarks, caused by coin to coin contact within sealed bags as they were moved from one location to another, including a likely journey by ship overseas.
The large size and soft gold alloy of double eagles made it nearly impossible for examples to survive in high grades under such circumstances, but a few pieces faced better odds than their peers. Those were placed into advanced cabinets, such as the Connecticut State Library or John Clapp collections. Even so, it is miraculous that any Superb Gems exist today, since indifferent handling at the San Francisco Mint itself would cause abrasions before any possible collector intervention.
The present piece, then, is a marvel. It is one in a million, or more explicitly, one in 1.498 million. Those familiar with MS65 1914-S twenties know that they have numerous small marks, which are unacceptable for the MS67 grade. But this coin is remarkably smooth. Only one or two minute marks on each side are visible with the unaided eye, and these are concealed within the devices. The yellow-gold surfaces are lustrous and crisply struck, but it is the exceptional preservation that makes the current lot so important to those who demand only the finest for their collection.(Registry values: N1)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26FU, PCGS# 9166, GSID# 10172)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 0.9675oz
Mintage: 1,498,000

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 Certification Details from NGC