Lot 1964
1866-S. With Motto. PCGS graded EF-45. CAC Approved. Lightly toned. Moderately well defined, with normal surface abrasions from time spent in circulation.
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 included on United States 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 poetic IN GOD WE TRUST sounded 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 to add it to the production dies. (Philadelphia makes dies for all branch mints). For this reason, a few No Motto Twenty Dollar Gold pieces were made at San Francisco before the new With Motto reverse dies arrived. The present piece is second Type, With Motto (PCGS # 8950) .
Estimated Value $2,300 - 2,400.
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| Realized $2,996 |
