Lot 1311
1869-S $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. Lovely golden even toning. Here is a very rare Type 2 San Francisco mint issued twenty for the collector to find in this choice Mint State grade. The surfaces are simply terrific for this usually dull and bagmarked date, since most other double eagles made in 1869 were heavily handled, circulated, or shipped abroad; they are nearly always found in miserable states of preservation when Uncirculated, or in circulated condition. Note the beauty of Liberty's facial profile and the surrounding fields, whose smooth contours show just trivial scuffs and a few minute tics, unlike the heavily scratched surfaces of others. Clear-cut devices point to it having been giving a decent, but not quite full strike by the dies. Weakness occurs at these few locations only: the obverse stars but not the pearls lining the coronet; while the reverse impresses us with its near perfection of strike and near gem quality luster. Examination of the reverse fails to find a fault, in fact, and this portion of the coin would probably grade even higher on its own, as we alluded to. This coin is identifiable by a tiny nick crossing the lower portion of the N in TWENTY and a tiny scratch below the first obverse star. As to rarity, that is where this beautiful 1869-S twenty really shines. The combined NGC and PCGS Population reports show a total of four coins graded this high, with none seen higher by either service. Obviously, this coin is a contender for the finest known of the date, and such quality is highly coveted by most serious collectors. Expect a battle for this coin when it crosses the block. Pop 5; none finer at PCGS or NGC. PCGS #6586960 (PCGS # 8956) .
Estimated Value $70,000 - 75,000.
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| Realized $77,625 |
