Lot 4767
1866 $20 Liberty. With motto. PCGS graded MS-61. A nice bold strike. Rich golden toning amplified by Prooflike fields. The year 1866 was a year of transition in silver and gold coins. Patriotic fervor arising out of the trauma of Civil War gave birth to demands for a religious motto to be added to America's coinage. In 1861, 1862, and 1863, two variations of this motto were used on Pattern coins. The first, GOD OUR TRUST, was rejected; the more lyrical IN GOD WE TRUST came off better and was included on the new Two-cent Pieces of 1864 and Shield Nickels of 1866. The Act of March 3, 1865 included a clause mandating this motto. However, it took Philadelphia Mint some months before it could add it to the $20 gold production dies. (Philadelphia makes dies for all branch mints). For this reason, a few No Motto twenty-dollar gold pieces were run off at San Francisco before the new With Motto reverse dies arrived. This is one of the most attractive Mint State With Motto specimens available. The prooflike field gives a backdrop for the frosted devices. Pop 6; 2 finer, 1 in 62, 1 in 64 (PCGS # 8949) .
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $10,350 |
