Lot 1735
1853 U.S. Assay Office $20 Gold, 900 THOUS. PCGS graded MS-61. The lustrous surfaces are nice and frosty. We note some light reverse rim nicks. In an old green label holder. Gold-gold satin frost is boldly hypnotic on this fresh-appearing Assay Office $20 gold Territorial. Since our observation is that this date is nearly always fully struck, then this sharp coin has every suggestion of precision manufacture as seen in eagle's body, wing and neck feathers, the shield and arrows, and all lettering and legends on both sides. An historic offering. Many Assay Office coins were later melted following the opening of the U.S. Mint in San Francisco. Pop 18; 83 finer (PCGS # 10013) .
Note: the notation of .900 Fine on this coin refers to the Mint standard of 90% gold with 10% alloy (for hardening to improve wearability). At the time, many Territorial minters were having difficulty refining their gold to the exacting standards of Federal coinage. The Assay Office, being an unofficial but still government sanctioned mint, the importance of minting .900 Fine coins was key to their acceptability.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000.
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