1866 $20 Motto MS(PCGS#8949)

December 2025 Showcase Auction - The James A. Stack, Sr. Collection Part I

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

21026

Grade

AU53

Price

5,040

Lot Description

The first year of the Type II design with the addition of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the reverse, the post-Civil War economy was still quite tenuous when the Philadelphia Mint struck 698,745 double eagles in 1866. The entire issue entered commercial channels with little fanfare and were subject to hoarding or were used for overseas payments where specie was the preferred medium of exchange, a situation that would persist well into the 1870s. Even though a few thousand survivors are thought extant, almost all of these are in lower circulated grade levels. This solidly graded and sharply defined AU-53 also offers pleasing color in a blend of light olive and warmer orange-gold. It is also an example of an unlisted (and interesting) Misplaced Date variety with the top of an errant 6 in the denticles under the right edge of the final primary digit.