Lot 2552
1885 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-58. Well struck and quite lustrous. Shimmers with rich golden color. A business strike not a Proof, although it does possess ample Proof surfaces. While it would be somewhat logical that the same die pair would be used to make business strikes as well as Proofs, this is not the case, and a close comparison of the few Proofs that are traded will reveal that the date on the business strikes is placed slightly differently, farther to the left, with the 8 centered under the B (J.B.L.), while on the Proofs the center of the 8 is ever so slightly to the right. Warm gold obverse and reverse, with no copper spots. Business strikes amounted to just fewer than a thousand pieces in 1885. Relatively few exist at any grade level, therefore, and of those, quoting Breen, "Most are EF to AU." As to the total surviving population it is a guess, and Bowers (2004) estimates 50 to 75, which seems to be as good a guess as any. From any aspect, from any evaluation, here indeed is a prime rarity. Only 751 minted. Pop 10; 6 finer; 2 in 61; 2 in 62; 2 in 63. (PCGS # 9003) .
Estimated Value $24,000 - 26,000.
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| Realized $41,400 |
