Lot 1746
1929 $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded MS-65. A marvelous example, well struck and fully lustrous exhibiting full mint bloom colors. Collectors are fascinated by the way the typical 1929, with its generally sharp strike and fully lustrous and frosty surfaces, almost always displays considerable eye-appeal. The example in this lot almost tries to break out of the MS65 class and sneak into the next higher grade. All design elements are sharply delineated as the photographs clearly tell, with no weakness on the central motifs. The frosty luster has vibrancy like the luster seen on a much commoner 1927 or 1928 issue, the surface bright. The surfaces are also very well preserved, with only a few minor marks on Liberty's body mentioned for accuracy. (This issue often contains copper stains, but not a problem here.) All in all, a very appealing Gem. A similar specimen from our Ohringer Part II Sale, Sept. 2008 lot 1320 realized $77,625. Pop 22; 5 finer in 66 (PCGS # 9190) .
The 1929 opens the final segment of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series, and every issue from this year through 1933 is a major rarity. While the '29 is the least rare of this group, it is still a coveted key date whose appearance at auction is an occasion of note among specialists. As we indicated in the introduction to the '29 issue, fewer than 300 coins have been have been certified by PCGS and NGC combined. MS65 pieces are rare, with only 23 pieces graded by both serves, and a mere 3 coins finer (9/05). And according to our records, the major auction houses have seen the appearance of only 20 Gems in the past 15 years or so, with just one piece grading higher.
Estimated Value $70,000 - 75,000.
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