Lot 3414
1857-S $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck and from the SS Central America ship wreck. No info on the holder about the ship wreck. Aesthetically tempting, as fine a looking '57-S twenty of this grade with full strike as you are apt to see, and all the while saturated with bright golden bloom, little in the way of toning, and that mainly hugs the rims. The devices were struck smack on the dot at the required force by the dies leaving all design elements plain and clear-cut, with not even an iota of weakness as found on some Type 1 examples parading around in the same numerical grade.
More than 5,400 Mint State 1857-S double eagles were salvaged from the wreck of the S.S. Central America, lost at sea in a hurricane on September 12, 1857. These and other numismatic items electrified the numismatic community when the discovery was made. In short order, all the $20 gold pieces were sold, realizing per reports, in excess of $100 million.
Prior to the treasure find, the 1857-S $20 was known to be a plentiful coin in such grades as Very Fine, Extremely Fine, and About Uncirculated, but elusive in Mint State, most of the latter being in lower ranges with dullish luster, unlike the present coin's dazzling appearance (PCGS # 8922) .
Estimated Value $7,000 - 7,500.
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| Realized $8,050 |
