Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 17

Coin Auction

U.S. Gold $20 (1907-1927)

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 2178		$20 St. Gaudens. 1907. Ultra high relief, lettered edge. PCGS graded Proof 68. Widely regarded as the most elegant and stunning coin ever produced at an American mint, the Ultra High Relief is truly a connoisseurs caviar. This issue is truest to Augustus Saint Gaudens original concept, and the few coined were the direct result of President Theodore Roosevelt's considerable attention to the project. The surfaces are nearly perfect, as expected for such a high grade. No signs of toning or the passage of time to be found, and this coin remains as bright and fresh as the day it was struck. We note that PCGS has graded only 7 examples of the Ultra High Relief, 3 as PR-67, and 4 as PR-68. NGC has graded a total of 6 pieces, 2 as PF-67, 3 as PF-68 and one as PF-69. Thus, a maximum of 13 have been graded by the two main grading services. A few others may exist, and a five more are held by institutions (2 in the Smithsonian, 1 at the ANS, another at the Theodore Roosevelt Museum and one in the Harry Bass Foundation). The total mintage was between 13 and 22, with 2 melted by the Mint just after issue. Extensive research by Walter Breen, David W. Akers and Elvira Clain-Stefanelli produced the summary of what follows, and we thank each of them for their arduous efforts to report the truth on how this magnificent coin came about. Augustus Saint Gaudens was the premier sculptor in America. His statuary works graced many parks and buildings of note, and his reputation was known the world over. In 1892 Saint Gaudens designed the official medal for the Columbian Exposition of that year. His design depicted Columbus "transfigured as he set foot in the New World" and the reverse bore a "Grecian youth, unashamedly naked, holding a torch and wreaths to crown the victors" (Breen). The design was submitted and quickly approved by the committee. Nevertheless, the medal came within the site of Anthony Comstock, head of his own Society for the Supression of Vice, and a torrent of letters flooded the power brokers of Congress and the Columbian Exposition Committee, denouncing the naked youth as obscene. Rather than stand firm against the storm, the committee asked Charles E. Barber to redesign the reverse of the medal, which was done to Comstock's approval. Saint Gaudens was furious, and swore never to have anything to do with Mint Bureau again. Years passed, and in 1905 an opportunity arose that Saint Gaudens could not refuse. His old friend Teddy Roosevelt asked the sculptor to design his inaugural medal. Soon Roosevelt convinced Saint Gaudens to start redesigning the eagle and double eagle, and with the President's backing, Saint Gaudens figured he had a better chance at success with his designs at the Mint. With the help of his assistant Henry Hering, and employing the Paris Mint to keep the project away from the ever jealous Charles E. Barber, molds and casts were submitted to President Roosevelt. Roosevelt choose this design for the double eagle, and dies were finally prepared. Due to the depth of the design, these coins were struck up to nine times in order to bring up the design completely, and that using the largest medal press, which could strike with the force of 172 tons per strike. The reverse die cracked after a handful were struck and the project stalled. Meanwhile Saint Gaudens had died in August of 1907, just months after these were coined in February and March of 1907. Hering and Roosevelt refused to the let the project die, and the design was modified to the High Relief coins of November 1907. Mintage figures state 11,250 were struck, despite Mint Director Barber's sabotage and protests. Soon Barber would win out, and the relief was greatly reduced again in late 1907, and that design continued through 1933 when gold production ceased until more recent times. Given the recent sale of a 1933 double eagle for over $7 million, this coin seems a relative bargain. As a work of numismatic art, none finer are seen, and the ownership of an Ultra High Relief is undoubtedly the pinnacle of any numismatists collection. Bidding will commence at $1,000,000 (PCGS # 9131) . Estimated Value $1,000,000-UP. From our Dr. Richard Ariagno Collection Sale, June 1, 1999, lot 885. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2179		$20 St. Gaudens. 1907. High relief, Roman numerals, wire rim. PCGS graded MS-63. Rich bright golden color and strong luster on both sides. As always, the strike is quite full, with mountainous details on even the tiniest devices. As we know, each of these coins had to be struck several times to bring up the high relief, with the final few strikes needed just to fill in the highest details on Liberty and the eagle's huge wings. Not the finest graded by the services, but certainly worth consideration as these tend to get a lot more expensive with each grade point higher above this. This one shows a light die crack from the feathertip at the end of each wing to the other feathertip at the end of the wing. Worth a premium for its very clean surfaces and abundant eye appeal (PCGS # 9135) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,500. From the Benson collection and purchased from an unknown source in the 1940s. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $14,950
Lot 2180		$20 St. Gaudens. 1907. High relief, Roman numerals, wire rim. PCGS graded MS-62. While not the finest graded of this most popular United States coin, this one does possess a lovely coppery toning, especially on the reverse. We believe this copper toning came about from long storage in a small velvet lined coin box which is included with this lot. The back of the box states "Very Rare Bold Relief F22 S-127". One small spot is noted between BE on the obverse, and another on the reverse on the forward edge of the wing which someone has attempted to remove with a sharp instrument. Close examination will also find a small rim tick left of the U of UNITED. The fields are clean, and the balance of the handling marks are clustered on the eagle's wings and thus are not that distracting. Always in strong demand and approaching the 100th year since it was coined (PCGS # 9135) . Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,500. From the Benson collection and purchased from an unknown source in the 1940s. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $10,350
Lot 2181		$20 St. Gaudens. 1907. Flat relief, Arabic numerals. PCGS graded MS-65 Premium Quality. A gem specimen with bag-mark free surfaces. Attractive pale olive and delicate golden-orange mint color adds to this coin's appeal (PCGS # 9141) . Estimated Value $2,200 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,370
Lot 2182		$20 St. Gaudens. 1909. PCGS graded MS-65 Premium Quality. One of the very finest graded of this scarce date, the luster is rich and golden in color, with the expected strong strike required for gems. PCGS has graded only 10 this high, and importantly only 3 higher, all MS-66. A foremost opportunity for the specialist (PCGS # 9150) . Estimated Value $25,000-UP. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $31,050
Lot 2183		$20 St. Gaudens. 1909-D. PCGS graded MS-64. A bright, frosty mint specimen and quite rare this choice. Only 66 reported in this grade with 9 better (PCGS # 9152) . Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2184		$20 St. Gaudens. 1910. AU-50. This one circulated briefly. Estimated Value $350 - 370. From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed on August 17, 1944 for $41.00. View details	Realized $437
Lot 2185		$20 St. Gaudens. 1911-D. PCGS graded MS-65. A bright, fresh gem example of this date. Well struck, and with clean surfaces throughout. PCGS has graded 503 this high, with 141 graded higher (PCGS # 9158) . Estimated Value $800 - 900. From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed on August 17, 1944 for $41.00. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,265
Lot 2186		$20 St. Gaudens. 1911-D. PCGS graded MS-64. Fresh from a bag of these that was broken up in the 1940s. Great luster and eye appeal, as expected for the grade (PCGS # 9158) . Estimated Value $450 - 500. From the Benson collection and purchased from an unknown source in the 1940s. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $719
Lot 2187		$20 St. Gaudens. 1911-D. PCGS graded MS-64. Lustrous and bright, with a couple of tiny ticks from gem, including one on Liberty's nose (PCGS # 9158) . Estimated Value $450 - 500. From the Benson collection and purchased from Wilkes circa 1944 for $36. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $748
Lot 2188		$20 St. Gaudens. 1911-D. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice for the moderate grade assigned, and with strong luster and a decent strike (PCGS # 9158) . Estimated Value $350 - 400. From the Benson collection and purchased from Wilkes circa 1944 for $36. View details Check results on similar lots	Realized $546
Lot 2189		$20 St. Gaudens. 1923-D. NGC graded MS-65. Light coppery toning on both sides over ample luster. A slightly better date. Estimated Value $850 - 950. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2190		$20 St. Gaudens. 1924. PCGS graded MS-66. Strong luster and very clean surfaces, keeping this one at the higher end of the gem class (PCGS # 9177) . Estimated Value $1,900 - 2,100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,415
Lot 2191		$20 St. Gaudens. 1924. PCGS graded MS-64. A choice coin with minimal field marks and the expected surface quality for the grade (PCGS # 9177) . Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details Check results on similar lots	Realized $633
Lot 2192		$20 St. Gaudens. 1924. PCGS graded MS-63. Satiny luster and sharp (PCGS # 9177) . Estimated Value $400 - 425. View details Check results on similar lots	Realized $489
Lot 2193		$20 St. Gaudens. 1927. PCGS graded MS-65. Estimated Value $900 - 950. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,064
Lot 2194		$20 St. Gaudens. 1927. PCGS graded MS-63. A common date in choice condition (PCGS # 9186) . Estimated Value $400 - 425. View details Check results on similar lots	Realized $500