1855 $20 S.S. Central America #2 (with Pinch) MS(PCGS#670827)

August 2021 ANA U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

4250

Grade

MS62

Price

20,400

Lot Description

Rare S.S. Central America Find 1855 Double Eagle 1855 Liberty Head Double Eagle. S.S. Central America Label. With One Pinch of California Gold Dust. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC. A sharply struck, vivid golden-apricot example with bountiful mint luster. The year 1855 is the first in which the Philadelphia Mint would produce fewer double eagles that its San Francisco counterpart, indicative of the fact that the newly opened West Coast facility would leverage its proximity to the gold fields to strike the lion's share of California's precious metal into coins. This dominance would continue, with few exceptions, through the end of the Liberty Head series in 1907. Indeed, the mintage for the 1855, 364,666 circulation strikes, is modest by Philadelphia Mint standards of the era. The total face value for the issue is $7,293,320. It is thought as few as 15 to 20 different 1855 double eagle can be considered Mint State today, thus placing the present piece among the most desirable examples extant. Only seven 1855 double eagles were recovered with the treasure of the S.S. Central Americashipwreck. The present example is housed in a special large size PCGS holder that also includes one pinch of California gold dust. The back of the PCGS insert features the signature of Bob Evans, chief scientist and historian of the S.S. Central Americatreasure. Under Evans' signature is the note: "I certify this coin and gold dust were recovered from the S.S. Central America." A particularly rare and exciting offering for this conditionally challenged Type I Liberty Head twenty-dollar gold issue. Provenance: Ex S.S. Central America. PCGS Population (issue as a whole): 5; 3 finer (MS-65+ finest). This is the finest of four examples certified by PCGS with one pinch of California gold dust. CAC Population: 2; 2. PCGS# 670827. NGC ID: 268V.