Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 5

The Dr. Jon Kardatzke Coin Collection, Parts 2 and 3

$20 Liberty

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1700		1850 $20 Liberty. Sharpness of MS-60 but with light initials and cleaned. With this coin we begin a fabulous date and mintmark collection of double eagles. There are many coins to choose from, so collectors will want to take careful notes of the pieces that interest them, then study the coins closely to determine bids before the sale. Once this sale is completed, another opportunity of this magnitude may be many years away. An abundance of rarity is offered, condition rarities, and virtually all the key dates in grades that a collector can appreciate and aspire to own. Build your war chest of funds for this sale, you will be glad you did when the final lot crosses the auction block. This 1850 double eagle marks the first year of the regular issue double eagles. Apparently two 1849 patterns were struck in gold, possibly others in silver or copper, some without dates from the master die (Breen's Encyclopedia). One of the 1849 double eagles resides at the Smithsonian, the other has since disappeared. The double scroll is Longacre's direct allusion to the double eagle denomination. On the original master die, Liberty's tiara was first engraved too far to the right, so LIB is over LLI. This master die was used to produce all dies for double eagle's from 1850 through 1858, then a new master die was created and used from 1859 through 1876. At first glance, this 1850 double eagle is a nice mint state piece, however; there are minor hairlines in the fields from cleaning, and some knuckle head has faintly engraved a primitive bar-b-que in the lower left obverse field and signed his work "Jones" above and near the last star. To the naked eye this graffiti is virtually invisible, and faint even with a strong glass. Liberty's cheek is full and round, without the usual barrage of bagmarks. The fields too, are smooth and undiminished by handling marks or shipping evidence. Apparently set aside as the first of its kind, and well cared for since the day of issue. This appears to be the open 5, thin numeral variety with the broken A of STATES on the reverse. Fully struck on Liberty's hair, stars and the reverse devices too. An impressive coin that any collector will long cherish for the vibrant luster and clean surfaces. View details	Realized $1,898
Lot 1701		1850 $20 Liberty. VF-35. For the grade, an exceptionally pleasing example of the first year of the Double Eagle. A few tiny edge nicks on each side, but the abrasions are all small and the color is a mellow orange gold. If you want one with "an authentic feel," this is a good candidate. View details	Realized $719
Lot 1702		1850-O $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-53. This is the closed 5, heavy date variety. Delightful luster still resides near the devices, and the surfaces are quite free of heavy bagmarks or other problems. Liberty's cheek and face show only minimal signs of contact, unlike the usual train wrecks we see in lower grades. Although 141,000 were minted, most were melted or have otherwise disappeared. PCGS, in their years of grading, have only certified 147 pieces (January 2000 Population Report) none of which, we repeat none of which have been graded in full mint state. Only 7 coins have been graded this high, with 10 coins graded higher in AU by that service. Breen notes that there were "5 uncs in the Baltimore Hoard", which apparently by today's standards are no longer "uncirculated". The Baltimore hoard is the primary source of Type I double eagles (until the recent sales of the S.S. Central America coins) and other gold denominations. Two boys found a copper receptacle in the cellar of 132 South Eden Street, Baltimore on August 31, 1934, after a brief court hearing, the treasure inside was awarded to the finders, Theodore Jones and Henry Grob, and was sold by auction on May 2, 1935. The treasure contained 317 double eagles, 92 of them dated 1850, only one 1856-O, 81 eagles, 257 half eagles, 78 quarter eagles and 2,903 gold dollars. Most were EF to Unc, and all dated 1834 to 1856. One of really scarce dates to find in high grade, this coin will elicit spirited bidding when it crosses the block. View details	Realized $7,188
Lot 1703		1851 $20 Liberty. AU-58. A choice coin for the grade, full luster in the fields and boldly struck on Liberty. A few of the left obverse stars aren't as full as one might hope, but this is a magnificent appearing example. Examination with a glass will locate some unimportant hairlines, which are present on virtually all gold coins of this era. Struck from an obverse die with the thick numerals in the date. Although the Baltimore hoard contained 79 pieces, this is still a difficult date to locate in high grade like this. Clean on Liberty's cheek, and far fewer tick marks than usually encountered, even in this high grade. View details	Realized $1,610
Lot 1704		1851-O $20 Liberty. EF-45. Well struck and reflective in the fields. The curious greenish-gold which has a different look and appearance than the Philadelphia coins of this era, so one scarcely needs to see the mintmark before knowing its a New Orleans coin. The fields have rather heavy hairlines when examined with a glass, but the coin does not have the bagmarks often associated with this grade. Nice rims that show only the tiniest tick marks. View details	Realized $920
Lot 1705		1852 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-55. Light hairlines from an old wiping (it's not really "cleaned"), and some minor lines and marks. The eagle and the stars are sharp, but the highest points of Liberty's locks are a touch soft compared to some others seen from this period. Lovely old-time color, giving a most pleasing satiny look to this neat, early date. View details	Realized $1,438
Lot 1706		1852 $20 Liberty. AU-55. Removed from an NGC holder where this coin was graded AU 55. Here is a delightful coin in every way, the surfaces show few bagmarks or even hairlines, nothing but satiny subdued luster and light coppery toning. Sharply impressed by the dies, with full stars on the obverse and complete lettering in the scroll. Clean rims and surfaces, which is so unheard of on these large, heavy gold coins. Although a common date, even in this grade, few will be more appealing to the collector who demands quality coins for their collection. Bid liberally if you expect to capture this piece. View details	Realized $1,035
Lot 1707		1852-O $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-50. Scarce in this grade, with approximately 100 graded by PCGS in this grade or higher. Smooth, even wear on both sides, with the usual touch of weakness on Liberty's lower curls, and at the base of the date. One small mark on Liberty's face is scarcely visible today, perhaps it happened soon after coining and wore down during the brief time in circulation. An appealing coin that most collectors would cherish. Well struck on the reverse, with full devices throughout and trouble-free wear in the fields. View details	Realized $2,645
Lot 1708		1852-O $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-50. Light abrasions and lines, as are to be expected for the grade. Handsome old-time deep gold color, beneath which shines luster. Well struck and, in all, well preserved. View details	Realized $1,553
Lot 1709		1853/2 $20 Liberty. AU-55. Cracked out of an NGC holder where it was graded AU 55 and noted as the overdate on the insert. Diagnostic lump under the R of LIBERTY, and traces of the 2 are visible with a glass in the lower portion of the 3. One moderate scrape in the field below the fifth and sixth stars. We do note a few rim bruises on the reverse, one above the E of AMERICA, the other below the D of TWENTY D. Most of the luster was diminished during brief circulation, and although noted by Breen to be extremely rare, current PCGS Population Reports show the population is about ten percent of the survivors of this date. View details	Realized $5,750
Lot 1710		1853 $20 Liberty. MS-61. Some minor nicks on the edges, still a strictly Brilliant Uncirculated Type I Double Eagle and thus rare. View details	Realized $3,450
Lot 1711		1853 $20 Liberty. EF-45. Some luster in the fields near the devices and well struck. One minor rim mark on the obverse has been filed down. View details	Realized $978
Lot 1712		1853-O $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-55. One of the scarce, low-mintage dates that boasts just 71,000 struck, and fewer than 100 graded by PCGS. In this choice About Uncirculated grade, only 9 have been graded as such, with 8 graded higher, including a single coin in mint state. This example is very well struck, including each obverse star and tiny curl on Liberty. The reverse is similar, with clear lettering even on the tiny ribbon, and quite a bit of the original luster in the fields. Free of all but minor circulation marks, and identifiable by a small spot on Liberty's shoulder and a pair of bagmarks behind her head. There won't be any of these found in the S.S. Central America hoard, as only San Francisco coins were in general circulation where the passengers had departed from. A rarity in this grade. View details	Realized $3,795
Lot 1713		1854 $20 Liberty. AU-58. A frosty coin that is very close to mint state. This is the small, normal date with the broken A in STATES on the reverse. Examination will locate a couple of unimportant hairlines and a small drift mark in the planchet surrounding the Y of TWENTY. Clean fields and surfaces for the grade, this one didn't suffer the usual profusion of bagmarks seen on so many others from this era. Scarce and desirable as such. View details	Realized $2,070
Lot 1714		1854-S $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-63. A well struck satiny mint example with nearly immaculate matte-like surfaces. From the Anacapa treasure trove. View details	Realized $10,925
Lot 1715		1855 $20 Liberty. AU-55. Cracked out of a PCGS holder where this coin was graded AU 55. Subtle coppery toning on the obverse over lustrous fields. Trivial hairlines probably from circulation rather than cleaning, and well preserved. Sharp on all the stars, devices and lettering. Minimal contact marks for the grade, usually these coins have fields which resemble mine fields after the war, not so here, so bid accordingly. A common date in pristine condition. Struck by a lapped obverse die that shows faint outlines surrounding the first four stars, and the last one too. Broken A in STATES reverse, not corrected by hand, with about one third of the central bar present on the right side. There is a tiny die dot below the first S of STATES. View details	Realized $2,530
Lot 1716		1855-O $20 Liberty. EF-45. Sharpness of a higher grade, but cleaned in the fields which left the usual telltale hairlines. Boldly struck for the date, with full stars and mountainous curls on Liberty. Identifiable by a minute planchet flaw above Liberty's bust tip, and a pin prick flaw on either side and distant from the date. The reverse also has smooth, even wear and is identifiable by a bagmark to the right of the mintmark. Mintage for the year plunged to 8,000 coins as the San Francisco Mint came on line, reducing the need for subsidiary mint coinage. Excellent rims that show none of the usual bangs and bumps. PCGS has not graded any in mint state, but NGC has awarded two as MS 60 and a single as MS 61. In other words, don't wait for a better one to appear, it may be a long time. Previously from Superior Galleries sale, February 2, 1993, lot 1485 as MS 60+; Superior Galleries sale, February 4, 1992, lot 2941 (AU-58). View details	Realized $15,525
Lot 1717		1855-S $20 Liberty. AU-55. Another coin that was broken out of an NGC holder where it was graded AU 55. Decent luster in the fields and with moderate to heavy bagmarks for the grade. Broken A on the reverse, as seen on most from the master hub used in making dies. Scarce. View details	Realized $1,955
Lot 1718		1856 $20 Liberty. VF-35. However, there is an edge bump below the date which has been filed down affecting both sides of the coin, inspection recommended. Normal bagmarks and circulation ticks. View details	Realized $489
Lot 1719		The Classic Rarity 1856-O $20 Gold. Sharpness of Very Fine but cleaned and repaired. An extremely rare coin in any grade, with only 9 offerings in the past decade, two of them were this same coin! Perhaps two dozen are known at most, more likely half that figure. This coin has been lightly burnished, perhaps to remove scratches or just the usual quotient of bagmarks. Nevertheless, it has nice eye-appeal and is well struck for the date. Liberty's cheek and the surrounding fields show little evidence of handling, and what few marks are present are inconsequential on the obverse. The reverse has more ticks in the fields, a few shallow scrapes on the lower right reverse, one below the last A of AMERICA serves to identify this coin, and a small group under the first A. One of the classic rarities of the double eagle series that is seldom offered, and always expensive. Mintage for the year spiraled down to a mere 2,250, few of which remain. Only a single coin was found in the Baltimore hoard, and no others are rumored to be "out there" hidden away. One of the highlights of this immense double eagle collection and worthy of a top-notch collection. As noted in the recent Bass Collection on the 1856-O offered there, the date logotype is punched low and deep in the die, resulting in a "closed 5". The O mintmark is punched a bit high, close to the eagle's tail feathers, and the A in STATES is lightly patched (the reverse hub used to make dies had the central part of the A broken off at the left, on some dies this is repaired partially, others it shows about half the crossbar on the right side only), and there is a jagged die crack from between two dentils, through the extreme right side of the D of TWENTY D, just inside the curve of that letter, up to the ribbon above. This reverse die crack must be diagnostic to this variety, although not widely reported before the Harry Bass Sale. Breen notes that only two reverses were shipped in 1856 to New Orleans, apparently only one was used, and it cracked. This die crack is not seen on earlier or later coins in this collection from this mint, but it may well have been used prior to or after 1856. Many collectors have learned to accept minor repairs on coins such as the careful smoothing done to this coin. After years of collecting and seeing countless coins, we know that many of the great rarities have been repaired at some time in the past. Today, collectors are more demanding, and such work is either not done or is done with extreme care as to not be detected by most collectors. The grading services have helped in this area by filtering out most of the offending repair jobs, by not grading such repaired coins or noting the repair on the grading insert. As we all know, you can't always find certain rare coins, they are by definition rare and not available. So, when a great rarity appears, like this 1856-O double eagle, collectors need to decide how much to discount the repair work to calculated their bids for an original, genuine 1856-O for their set. The lovely PCGS AU-53 coin offered in the Bass sale brought $105,800. This coin will bring less most likely, but with only dozen or so in the world, collector's don't exactly have a large choice, and it may be years before another 1856-O appears. As a numismatist, this coin would fit nicely in a circulated date collection, the surfaces have been carefully smoothed down, removing the offensive bagmarks which were no doubt deep and disturbing in the fields, and the face of Liberty looks like it was also smoothed a bit. Today, the appearance is of a lightly circulated coin, one without the barrage of bagmarks, the surfaces are therefore pleasing to the unaided eye, and a glass reveals minor hairlines and a few scattered marks still in the fields. Thus, the coin is a pleasing enough example, when one considers the rarity, history and availability of the date. From Auction '85, July 26, 1985, lot 974; Superior Galleries Sale, February 4, 1992, lot 2944 and Superior Galleries Sale, February 2, 1993, lot 1487. View details	Realized $21,850
Lot 1720		1856-S $20 Liberty. EF-40. Moderate circulation marks on both sides, nice color though. View details	Realized $719
Lot 1721		1857 $20 Liberty. EF-40. Some luster in the fields, and with average bagmarks for the grade. The 1 and 8 are connected by a short die line from the lower right serif of the 1 to the lower left ball of the 8. Perhaps this is one of the "minor positional vars" noted by Breen, but more interesting than most. View details	Realized $546
Lot 1722		1857-O $20 Liberty. VF-35. Here is another one of those "tough" dates to find. With Breen estimating around one percent of the original mintage to survive, the original mintage of 30,000 has since shrunk to 300 coins or so. Other dates are much rarer, but this is one of those sleeper dates that brings very little premium over a common date, considering it is far less common that the modest premium would indicate. As a collector, a date set of these coins is very challenging, with many rarities that sell for little over common dates. The well know key dates bring huge premiums, and deservedly so! There is a small rust pit in the die above Liberty's ear, as seen on all struck by this obverse, diagnostic to the date. Normal bagmarks on both sides, with minor hairlines in the fields and probably gently cleaned some time ago. Today, the coin looks very original and pleasant. View details	Realized $1,265
Lot 1723		1857-S $20 Liberty. AU-50. Lightly cleaned and retoned with some golden hues in the fields. Minor hairlines in the fields. What is about to become a "common" date thanks to the blessings the sea has recently yielded up through the skilled hands of Tommy Thompson. This particular coin has a normal A in STATES, but a broken top of the E in AMERICA. Nice surfaces aside from the minor hairlines. View details	Realized $1,093
Lot 1724		1858 $20 Liberty. MS-60. Light handling marks in the fields, but abundant and full luster throughout the obverse and reverse. Some trivial hairlines accounting for the grade. Appealing! View details	Realized $2,990
Lot 1725		1858-O $20 Liberty. Sharpness of EF-40 but buffed on the obverse. The obverse has been lightly buffed in order to reduce contact marks as has Liberty's cheek and neck. The telltale swirling lines are visible with a strong glass, while the coin retains a nice arms length appearance. The reverse is unmolested. Inspection recommended, as the repair work is minor, and this is another scarce date. View details	Realized $1,323
Lot 1726		1858-S $20 Liberty. AU-58. Another specimen of this scarce date in very high grade. This one has a few more bagmarks, but none are a problem or deep. Full luster in the fields and well struck. Decidedly scarce in this grade. View details	Realized $2,990
Lot 1727		1858-S $20 Liberty. AU-58. A beautiful coin for the grade. Surfaces of a higher grade, with a scattering of minor, and we mean minor, contact marks, unlike the usual banged-up ones offered. Liberty's cheek and face are clean, with only a few ticks from handling. Frosty luster throughout and choice in every way. Not a scarce date, but tough in this state of preservation. One for the true collector who demands quality, value and affordability. View details	Realized $3,105
Lot 1728		1859 $20 Liberty. AU-55. Removed from an NGC holder where it was graded AU 55. Full luster, but marred by countless small bagmarks in the delicate fields. Mintages dropped to 43,677 in 1859 as the Civil War dawned on the horizon. Coins like this scarcely circulated, but were hoarded for the hard times to come. View details	Realized $6,325
Lot 1729		Lovely 1859-O $20 Gold PCGS Graded AU 53. PCGS graded AU-53. Another rare date in splendid condition. The surfaces show moderate handling marks, as do virtually all coins from this Mint, as we know, the New Orleans double eagles circulated especially hard, just like the Ccs that commenced coinage in 1870. Circulation marks are the rule on coins from these two mints. Once struck, these heavy gold coins promptly entered circulation where $20 represented more than a weeks labor, for many people an entire month of work to earn such a coin. Hence, these were not saved, but spent for needed supplies of life. To preserve such a coin was a matter of chance, that's why Breen estimated that 99 percent of these were melted, lost or simply disappeared. This appears to the be "thin numerals" referred to in Breen's Encyclopedia. Identifiable by a tiny planchet void just over the right side of the 8 in the date. In the staggering Bass Sale from October 1999, there were 3 of this date offered, one better, one in this grade, and another in AU 50. The cataloger in that sale (there were several) noted that the first 1859-O had curious clash marks, similar to those seen on this coin. The obverse has several "glory rays" on Liberty's neck above her lowest curl, and some horizontal shield lines just above her ear. As questioned in the Bass Sale, how did the reverse die clash so high (above the low fields) on Liberty? One would think that clash marks would only appear in the fields of the opposing/clashed die, but somehow these clash marks appear within the devices of this 1859-O! One to study. PCGS has not yet graded a Mint State coin of this date, in fact, they have only graded 4 coins higher than this, with 8 in this particular grade category. An opportunity not to be repeated soon! View details	Realized $15,525
Lot 1730		1859-S $20 Liberty. AU-55. Broken out of an NGC holder where this coin was graded AU 55. Frosty luster in the fields, with a few light hairlines visible mostly on the obverse. Far fewer tick marks than usually encountered, even in this high grade, which make the coin pleasing to the eye. Scarce in this grade, about two dozen are known in Mint State, making this one of the better ones to select for your collection. View details	Realized $1,955
Lot 1731		1860 $20 Liberty. AU-53. A choice, frosty coin that boasts appealing surfaces and only moderate handling marks. Well struck throughout. View details	Realized $805
Lot 1732		PCGS Graded AU 50 1860-O $20 Gold Rarity. PCGS graded AU-50. We are proud to present this lovely 1860-O rarity in high grade. PCGS has graded a total of 39 coins to date, no doubt some of these are resubmittals, so the actual number is probably less. None have been seen in full Mint State as of yet. Only 5 have been graded this high, with a total of 10 graded in slightly higher grades of About Uncirculated by PCGS. That makes this tied at the lower end of the twelve coin Condition Census for the date. Frosty luster in the fields is still present near the devices, and the strike is about average for the date, somewhat weak on the stars, but full on the central devices. Mintage trickled in at 6,600 for the year from this Mint, no doubt virtually all from California gold shipped in from the San Francisco port through the Panama hand-off (the canal wasn't built for decades to come). Cargo was shipped from San Francisco to Panama, off-loaded and hauled by train or mule to the Atlantic side of Panama, reloaded and shipped up to the United States for coining at New Orleans or Philadelphia. As the Civil War was about to burst onto the scene, the few 1860-O double eagles didn't spend time in circulation, they were hoarded, later lost or remelted. Today, the population is likely between 50 and 100 coins, most of which are in lower grades. Although it is not clear in the Breen Encyclopedia the reverse master hub must have finally been changed in 1860, which is the final time we see the broken center bar in the A of STATES. The A on this coin does not appear to be touched up by the die engraver, but appears normal, whereas on the 1859-O just offered, the A has been touched up. This must be an earlier die state as the reverse die crack is not present through the E of UNITED to the eagle's wing as mentioned in the Bass Sale from October on that example of the 1860-O. An opportunity for the date collector to put aside one of the classic rare ones in choice condition. View details	Realized $13,225
Lot 1733		1860-S $20 Liberty. AU-55. Scarce in this state of preservation, with just a hint of wear and nearly full luster throughout. There is a minor planchet drift mark across Liberty's face, these were likely caused during the rolling process when the huge mint rollers were greased in order the force through the ingots time after time until they reached the proper thickness for planchets. The rollers were not unlike the old wringers used to wring out clothing. As gold was brought into the various mints for refining and coining, it was first melted and refined to the proper purity, then cast into ingots. The ingots were then rolled out between huge steel rollers until they reached the correct thickness, then the planchets were cut out for coining. With the immense crush of gold flowing through the San Francisco Mint, it stands to reason that quality control may have dropped a bit as the people and machinery were pushed to their limits. This particular coin is probably in the top 50 survivors of the date, so it deserves a strong premium over common dates in this grade. View details	Realized $4,140
Lot 1734		1861 $20 Liberty. EF-45. Clean surfaces for the grade, but with some light hairlines when turned under a light. Well struck, and one of the few common dates of the series. View details	Realized $552
Lot 1735		Historic 1861-O $20 Gold PCGS Graded AU 50. PCGS graded AU-50. A lustrous specimen of this storied date. The surfaces show moderate handling marks from circulation, and hints of prooflike reflectivity remain in the fields very close to the devices. As a date, this usually is weakly struck, this one better than average with most of the stars showing their radial lines at the centers, unlike the identical Bass Sale coin, which appears to be a bit weaker on the stars. As always, the date is weakly struck at the bottom. As noted in the Bass Sale: "Three pairs of dies were shipped to New Orleans from Philadelphia on December 10, 1860, during the same period in which the Confederate States of America government was in its formative stages. Only one pair was ever used. It is believed (cf. Breen) that the mintage of 17,741 pieces was comprised of 5,000 examples for the Union, plus 9,750 struck when the city of New Orleans was occupied by troops from Louisiana. Finally, 2,991 are believed to have been struck slightly later when Confederate troops were in charge. For about a year, New Orleans was held by Southern forces. Later it was "liberated" and controlled under General Benjamin Butler, of whom many stories have been told. Some called him "Spoons Butler" as he stole or requisitioned silverware from local inhabitants. To the victor went the spoils, and apparently Butler and his men took maximum advantage. Later, seeking to have the last word concerning his service and reputation, Butler wrote extensively of his life and the occupation of the city." As no die cracks have been reported, it is uncertain which governmental entity struck this particular coin, but Breen guesses that the weaker date ones may have been struck by the rebels. What is truly important is that this coin circulated during a very turbulent time in our history, and has somehow survived in high grade to come down to us. This is an important piece of history, and one of the top 20 known according to PCGS in their Population Report which also notes that none have been graded in mint state. Waiting for a better one is likely a fools game, they simply aren't available. View details	Realized $7,475
Lot 1736		1861-S $20 Liberty. AU-58. Broken out of an NGC holder where this coin was graded AU 58. Frosty luster in the fields, and a coin that retains nice surfaces for the period. Minor handling marks in the fields, but none are deep or annoying. A tough coin in this grade, with only a dozen graded in mint state by NGC and PCGS combined, although a cluster of 43 were graded by NGC in this grade. Well struck and desirable. View details	Realized $3,795
Lot 1737		A Choice EF 45 1861-S $20 Gold Pacquet. PCGS graded EF-45. One of the classic rarities of the series, this beautiful EF 45 coin will excite the specialist. Smooth, even wear, and fewer bagmarks than usually encountered for the grade. The fields retain some luster, and the strike is complete and balanced. Free of annoying rim marks or other circulation problems, this coin will no doubt excite the experienced numismatist who appreciates such quality in the early double eagles. The internal politics within the Philadelphia Mint continued unabated. Mint Director Snowden and others seemed to dislike J. B. Longacre, and actively worked to undermine his engravership position. One of these attempts was this new reverse die engraved by Anthony C. Paquet, the reverse letters were taller and more narrow than on the Longacre design. The new design was briefly accepted, but when a few were coined it was realized that there was insufficient room for the border, thus the design elements would wear quickly, and the Philadelphia Mint stopped production. Mint Director Snowden cabled the San Francisco Mint and asked them to use the old leftover dies rather than the new Pacquet reverse, but 19,250 had already been coined. These Pacquet reverse double eagles were released into circulation, along with the regular dies coins. In 1937 A. J. Fecht finally noticed the reverse die, and called it a pattern in The Numismatist 3/37 page 199. It wasn't until 1951 that the archives were examined and the story behind this reverse die came to light. Most of the survivors came from Europe and are heavily bagmarked. This coin, with its pleasant surfaces will undoubtedly bring a strong price. None were offered in the October Bass Sale. The highest graded by PCGS is a mere AU 53, that represented by a single coin, with another dozen graded as AU 50. Certainly in the top 30 known, with the better ones only a notch higher. Don't wait for the first mint state one to turn up, because you probably won't ever find it. As nice for the variety as we've seen, and worthy of a strong bid. View details	Realized $13,513
Lot 1738		1862 $20 Liberty. AU-50. Mintages plunged to 92,133 as America focused its attention on the unfolding war with the South. Most were melted or quickly spent for needed supplies. This coin retains its frosty surfaces that show some areas of prooflike mirroring in the fields. At the centers of the devices, in the protected areas, the original rose-gold luster remains. Liberty's face has a couple of minor grease marks from the rollers, but they are small and scarcely noticeable. An important date in this grade and only a couple of coins have been graded by the services as mint state. View details	Realized $4,370
Lot 1739		1862-S $20 Liberty. EF-45. This is the rare repunched 86 variety, with the undertype low, visible with a glass (Breen 7214). clean surfaces and fields which boast some luster on both sides. Clean face on Liberty and choice for the grade. Little premium has been paid for most of these repunched dates until they are listed in the Guide Book when everyone suddenly needs them for their date sets. Many coins show date repunching when examined with a glass, and this particular coin is a good example. View details	Realized $1,495
Lot 1740		1863 $20 Liberty. EF-45. Reflective mirror fields which show the usual bagmarks from even light circulation. There is a hidden cut in Liberty's hair behind her eye, and a few others in the field. Another scarce date that is tough to find in high grade, with only 4 graded as mint state by PCGS, and 22 in various grades of about uncirculated. Bid high if you need this date. View details	Realized $2,070
Lot 1741		1863-S $20 Liberty. EF-40. Light handling marks on both sides, and not as sharply struck on the stars as it should be. San Francisco was slacking off a bit on the coining pressure when this one was coined. Small S mintmark on the reverse, "rare" according to Breen. View details	Realized $1,438
Lot 1742		1864 $20 Liberty. AU-55. A frosty delight that boasts mint fresh color and well struck devices. The usual profusion of tick marks in the fields, with an identifying mark above the fourth star on the obverse. Struck from a lightly cracked reverse die, from the second S of STATES through OF AMER, similar to lot 1767 in the massive October Harry Bass Sale by Bowers and Merena. Curiously, the reverse die is rotated counterclockwise about 30 degrees. View details	Realized $2,990
Lot 1743		1864-S $20 Liberty. EF-40. About average for the grade, with moderate handling marks and some luster in the fields, but there are scrapes in the left obverse field, and some minor scratches on and under the N of UNITED. Coppery toning at the periphery. View details	Realized $2,070
Lot 1744		1865 $20 Liberty. EF-45. Light hairlines from a gentle cleaning appear under the extreme conditions of a harsh light and a strong glass, but nice in appearance to the unaided eye. Nice cheek on Liberty, and only a few reeding marks in the fields. A scarce date, even in this condition. View details	Realized $575
Lot 1745		1865-S $20 Liberty. AU-55. Cracked out of an NGC holder where it was graded AU 55, right on in our opinion. As with others from this era, the reverse die is sharply cracked, here a heavy crack extends through ENTY at the base of the reverse. Frosty luster, and nice surfaces for the grade. Scarce, although many mint state coins recently turned up in the Brother Jonathon shipwreck. View details	Realized $2,185
Lot 1746		The Rare 1866-S $20 Gold No Motto PCGS Graded AU 50. PCGS graded AU-50. The final year of production of the No Motto twenties, these were coined from two leftover reverse dies. Only 12,000 were struck while the San Francisco Mint focused on other coinages until the new with motto dies arrived in May of 1866. The motto "In God We Trust" was added to all silver and gold coinage beginning in 1866 after the Rev. M. R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania had Congress pass the authorization with the support of Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase. On the double eagle, only slight modifications needed to be made, the oval of the stars over the eagle's head was slightly enlarged in order to insert the motto within, other changes were made to the shield and scroll. Apparently unknown in full mint state, PCGS has only graded 7 coins this high, with 3 graded higher. Most are in grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine at best. The recent Bass Sale boasted only an EF 40. Struck from a clashed obverse die, with shield lines above Liberty's ear, and rays in the field from the curls on her back toward the last star. An important rarity in this grade, and certain to bring a strong price from advanced collectors. View details	Realized $11,500
Lot 1747		1866 $20 Liberty. With motto. AU-58. Cracked out of an NGC holder where this was graded AU 58. The fields and devices are satiny, with most of the luster in the fields and far fewer marks than usually encountered on these large, heavy coins. Slightly recut 1 in the date, and with the N of IN in the motto sharply recut. Hidden scrape on the right side of the eagle. Seldom found better. View details	Realized $2,760
Lot 1748		1866-S $20 Liberty. With motto. AU-50. Another coin that was cracked out of an NGC holder where it was graded AU 50 by that service. Moderate handling marks on both sides, with satiny San Francisco luster blazing away. With a radial die crack through the fourth star on the obverse, lighter cracks through the legends on the reverse. Extremely rare in mint state, this is one of the better ones to survive of this so-called common date. View details	Realized $2,415
Lot 1749		1867 $20 Liberty. AU-58. A real blazer that has full luster in the fields, but marred by rather heavy bagmarks on the obverse, the reverse is much nicer. Well struck throughout. View details	Realized $1,668

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