1927-S $20 MS63 PCGS....

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1927-S Saint-Gaudens Twenty, MS63
Scarce, Better Date Issue

1927-S $20 MS63 PCGS. Fifty years ago the 1927-S Saint-Gaudens double eagle was thought to be one of the rarest dates of the series. The large mintage of 3.1 million pieces was held in domestic banks and only 3,250 coins were officially released into circulation. Only a few examples were used in foreign trade, finding a safe haven in European banks. The great majority of the unlucky 1927-S mintage was destroyed in the Gold Recall of the 1930s. Regarding the historic rarity of the 1927-S, the authors of The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens as Illustrated by the Phillip H. Morse Collection wrote:

"The 1927-S is one of the rarest and best-known issues in the Saint-Gaudens series of double eagles. In 1988, David Akers ranked the 1927-S as tenth in overall rarity out of the 54-coin series. Fifty years ago it was considered as the fourth rarest, trailing only the 1924-S, 1926-D, and 1926-S. Since that time, a few 1927-S twenties have turned up, one or two at a time but nothing approaching the quantities of, say, the 1926-S. This is in spite of the fact that 3.1 million pieces were produced. The key status of the 1927-S is based on absolute rarity rather than conditional rarity. In all grades, there are probably only 160-170 pieces extant today, but curiously, two-thirds of the pieces known are Uncirculated--and there are several that are known at the Superb level."

The present coin is a delightful specimen of this scarce date. The surfaces are a pleasing mixture of reddish-yellow gold and lilac, with unbelievable mint frost. The striking details are not quite full, but the surfaces exhibit no mentionable flaws. Overall visual appeal is terrific. Population: 23 in 63, 13 finer (3/10).(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.

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