Lot 2780
1924-D $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded MS-63. Lovely rich golden toning on both sides. Both sides put on view the distinctive "look" for this D-mint $20 delivery: smoothly frosted surfaces, rolling cartwheel effects, and boldly struck devices. There is nothing hesitant about this one. It's color is gorgeous. Moving along, we can gladly report a highly presentable strike, with boldness to the key designs and freedom from rim bruises.
The 1924-D is another of the elusive mintmarked issues that continue through the end of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series. The Mint State survivors originated in European hoards of the 1950s to 1970s. Writing in 1988, Breen stated that a further 70 pieces were discovered in the summer of 1983. (Perhaps these latter were in the same Central American hoard that produced several Mint State 1909-D and 1922-S Double Eagles at around this time.) The otherwise deep peach-gold color yields to warmer golden-rose hues in areas. Die deterioration around the rims is sometimes a problem with the 1924-D issue, but the present coin displays sharpness in virtually all areas. Pop 107; 122 in 64; 5 in 65; 2 in 66. (PCGS # 9178) .
It is commonly said that most branch-mint twenties were retained in banks, the United States Treasury, and at the Federal Reserve, and later melted in the mid-1930s. However, at least a couple thousand were exported to Europe. Today, the 1924-D is quite scarce. However, offerings are regular, due to a combination of more pieces being available and the curious situation, prevalent throughout numismatics, of buyers taking home a piece from an auction, then putting it back on the market shortly thereafter. Sometimes a rare double eagle will do quite a bit of traveling around until it finds a lasting residence.
Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,500.
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| Realized $7,475 |
