Lot 2786
1853 U.S. Assay Office $20 Gold, 900 THOUS. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. Lovely light yellow gold toning. Well struck and choice. Always frosty for the issue, as seen here, the bright yellowish gold surface is nearly Gem quality with fine granular frost typical of Assay Office gold piece when offered in Mint condition, and best of all, no distracting bagmarks. Judged from an aesthetic standpoint, the coin is also possessed of a much finer strike than is typically found for a $20 issue.
Following the first issues of $50 octagonal gold slugs, on Dec. 9, 1851, Treasury Secretary Corwin through the Congress authorized the Assay Office to issue $10s and $20s. Production began Feb. 12, 1852. The U.S. Assay Office $20 coins are found in the Territorial and private mint gold coinage sections of most U.S. coin guides, but in fact the U.S. Assay Office was the forerunner of what would become the San Francisco Mint (which began striking quarter eagles, half eagles, eagles, and double eagles in 1854). Pop 16; 5 in 65 (PCGS # 10013) .
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
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| Realized $26,450 |
