1927-S $20 MS62 NGC....

Description

Lustrous MS62 1927-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

1927-S $20 MS62 NGC. The 1927-S double eagle is one that tends to be overlooked because of the celebrated rarity of its sibling the 1927-D, the rarest regular-issue gold coin of the 20th century.
Like so many other midseries issues in the Saint-Gaudens series, the 1927-S was largely melted in the 1930s, making the original mintage figures completely irrelevant today in terms of certified rarity. The mintage was 3.1 million pieces, but today there exist only about 250 pieces certified in all grades. Interestingly, about half of the certified population appears to have circulated at one time, so that the average certified piece grades a square-on MS60. Despite this, there exist pieces graded as high as MS67, where there are two pieces certified at NGC and one at PCGS.
In MS62, the grade of the present example, NGC has graded 33 pieces, with 44 finer, while PCGS has certified 32 coins, with 40 finer (6/08). While those may appear to be considerable numbers, one must remember to subtract a generous proportion for crossovers, crackouts, duplications, and the like, especially for a popular gold coin issue such as the 1927-S, where a one-point difference in grade can translate into a price variance of many thousands of dollars.
The MS62 grade of the present piece is explained partially due to some peripheral strike softness that is often seen, showing as notable weakness on the Capitol building dome and on some of the letters of LIBERTY. A few scattered contact marks and luster grazes appear on the surfaces, more so on the obverse and none of them particularly distracting. The antique-gold surfaces show generous cartwheel luster and bold eye appeal. (Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26GJ, PCGS# 9188, GSID# 10185)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 0.9675oz
Mintage: 3,107,000

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