Lot 1628
1885 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded Proof 66 Deep Cameo. Well struck and absolutely amazing. With only 77 Proofs minted, and a limited supply of business strikes accounted for, the rarity of 1885 goes deeper than most other dates in the series, 1850 to 1907, as the original mintage figure might suggest. Very few Proofs are known to exist. Some have said the 1885 compares more appropriately with the low-mintage issues of the 1870s, for which we agree.
To start at a logical point, we turn to the surfaces, which are brilliant and decidedly reflective. The fields are deeply mirrored from having been struck struck by the polished dies, giving everything a glowing abundance, watery smoothness. The strike is, as expected, razor-sharp, and even the closest inspection fails to divulge any areas of incompleteness. Liberty's hair waves are crisp and radiant, with the coronet pearls well detailed. These same devices, and their accompanying legends, are heavy with mint frost -- cameo-frost -- and against the fields, they shimmer in a way that has drawn generations of numismatists to Proof gold collecting. Lovely orange-to-reddish gold color emanates from both sides as the viewer rotates the coin under a lamp. There are no hairlines or toning spots to describe. For purposes of identification, we note a couple of faint, as-made lintmarks: in the field between Liberty's neck and star 1; between star 4 and the bridge of Liberty's nose; and a very slight planchet flaw in the field before her chin. The coin is a true numismatic delicacy, a prize find for any well-heeled buyer who contemplates owning only the finest and rarest numismatic treasures! Pop 1; none finer at PCGS. Here is a candidate for Finest Known (PCGS # 99101) .
Estimated Value $180,000 - 190,000.
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