Lot 3460
1896 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded Proof 64 Deep Cameo PQ. Lovely light even golden toning on both sides of this Premium Quality example. Looks a little undergraded. Only 128 Proofs struck. A vibrant coin from all levels of measurement: technical, aesthetic, rarity, and grading, and from this viewpoint a visually stunning $20 gold Proof. Like others dated 1896, which seems to lie at the pinnacle of the Mint's quality level, we see a combination of deep mirror fields with "orange peel" Proof surface on both sides. Nicely toned warm gold and orange as mentioned. The detail of strike is needle-sharp as well. Further on this point, all devices (including the tops of the letters in the legends and digits in the dates as well as the stars) are satin frosted. A greatly prized rarity, this, and one that only rarely surfaces despite a moderate reported Proof mintage for the date. We contend that fewer than half the 1896 release survives today, and then mainly in lower grades.
While the present coin will require an advanced buyer due to its value, any serious bidder wanting an outstanding Proof double eagle will want to play close attention as the auction progresses. Among Proofs of this decade, only a small percentage have survived in quality comparable to this. Pop 3; 5 finer, 2 in 65, 3 in 66 (PCGS # 99112) .
Estimated Value $45,000 - 50,000.
Ex: The Brentwood Park Estate.
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| Realized $106,375 |
