1908-S $20 MS67+ PCGS. CAC....

Description

1908-S Twenty Dollar, MS67+
Lowest Mintage With Motto Issue
The Finest Certified

1908-S $20 MS67+ PCGS. CAC. Ex: Simpson. The 1908-S has the smallest mintage for a With Motto Saint-Gaudens issue. Only 22,000 pieces were struck. Even though the Philadelphia Mint shipped 10 pairs of double eagle dies to San Francisco for use in 1908, only two die pairs were used, each die pairing struck 11,000 coins. The capacity of a large toggle press was 80 to 120 coins per minute, thus the entire mintage could have been struck in about four hours. As mentioned in the description for the MS66 above, the Mint experienced persistent problems getting the segmented collar to fit their presses and synchronize properly with the die faces, thus explaining the delay in manufacture and low mintage.

The mintage of the 1908-S accounts for both is availability in lower grades and it unavailability in the finest condition. More to the point, it was the hard-money West that accounted for both. The novelty of the new design in this part of the country that still highly valued silver and gold encouraged people to handle and comment on the new coins -- explaining the relatively availability of AU and low-end Uncirculated pieces. At the same time, this same novelty encouraged those with a numismatic inclination to carefully set aside the new coins. It was someone in this latter group that took care of this special coin. We can only imagine who that may have been, since we have been unable to trace the pedigree of this coin prior to Bob Simpson's purchase of it. Roger Burdette speculates in his Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle reference "The few high-grade coins remaining on the collector market likely came direct from the San Francisco Mint or the Assay Commission remainders."

This remarkable coin displays the thick, frosted mint luster for which the 1908-S is so well known. Strike details are complete throughout, and there are no abrasions or luster grazes seen (or expected for that matter on an MS67+). This particular coin is tied for finest known with an MS67+ at NGC, but this piece has a slight edge with the CAC sticker. Otherwise, only four pieces are known in MS67, and this Plus-graded example. NGC has certified only one MS67, the above-mentioned Plus-graded piece (11/22). Below is the most up-to-date roster available for the 1908-S, assembled by Ron Guth:

1. MS67+ PCGS. Bob R. Simpson Collection. Prior provenance unknown. The present coin.
2. MS67+ PCGS. Current ownership and prior provenance unknown, but definitely different from the Simpson example.
3. MS67 PCGS CAC. Norweb Collection, Part III (Bowers and Merena, 11/1988), lot 4090, $39,600; David Akers; Dr. & Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Collection (Heritage, 1/2012), lot 4607, $161,000.
4. MS67 PCGS. Auction '80 (Stack's, 8/1980), lot 1489, $46,000; Phillip Morse Collection (Heritage, 11/2005), lot 6559, $109,250.
5. MS67 PCGS. Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 1029, $17,600.
6. MS66+ PCGS. Bella Collection; A&A Saints Collection (Stack's Bowers, 8/2019), lot 5383, $111,000.
7. MS66+ PCGS. Half Dome Collection (PCGS Set Registry).
8. MS66 PCGS CAC. Dallas Signature (Heritage, 11/2005), lot 6560, $74,750; Palm Beach Signature Auction (Heritage, 3/2006), lot 2173, $76,000; Jackson Hole Collection (Heritage, 7/2006), lot 1932, $103,500; Jay Brahin Collection (Heritage, 4/2008), lot 2512, $97,750; Carter Family Collection (Heritage, 4/2010), lot 2341, $86,250; Rollo Fox Collection (Heritage, 1/2020), lot 4007, $87,000.
9. MS66 PCGS CAC. Dr. & Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 8/2006), lot 1700, $94,875; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2010), lot 3614, $74,750; Warren Collection (Heritage, 5/2022), lot 4070, $156,000.
10. MS66 PCGS CAC. Regency Auction 27 (Legend Rare Coin Auctions, 7/2018), lot 498, $96,938.
Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part X. (Registry values: N1)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26FA, PCGS# 9149, Greysheet# 10161)

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.

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