1871 $20 MS(PCGS#8960)

February 2025 Showcase Auction - U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2179

Grade

AU58

Price

9,600

Lot Description

Lovely pinkish-gold surfaces are vivid with prooflike reflective qualities on both the obverse and reverse. Sharply struck throughout, and impressively so for the type. The circulation strike mintage for the 1871 double eagle was tiny for the era with just 80,120 pieces produced, the lowest Philadelphia Mint production tally of any date in this series after 1859 and prior to 1881. Many lightly worn examples of this date were exported in later banking transactions, only to return to America in the mid to late 20th century, though this repatriation brought back very few high grade Uncirculated specimens. In fact, we suggest just 30 to 40 or so examples of this issue qualify as Mint State today, with most of those clustered around the MS-60 end of the grading scale. Exceptionally attractive at the threshold of Uncirculated quality, the coin offered here is sure to see spirited bidding at auction.