1885 $20 MS(PCGS#9003)

August 2023 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

5193

Grade

AU55

Price

50,400

Lot Description

Legendary Low Mintage 1885 $20 Gold Rarity 1885 Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-55 (PCGS). This attractive 1885 is a thoroughly appealing example of a legendary rarity among circulation strike Type III double eagles. Wonderfully original surfaces offer handsome honey-gold color and ample remnants of mint luster. Boldly defined overall from a well executed strike, with an uncommonly smooth appearance in hand for a large size gold coin that saw light commercial use. One of the most eagerly sought issues among key date Liberty Head double eagles, the circulation strike 1885 has a mintage of just 751 coins. Since many of the survivors are noticeably prooflike, these coins are most easily distinguished from their identically dated Proof counterparts by looking at the placement of the date. On circulation strikes, the date is a bit farther to the left than on the Proofs, with the first digit 8 centered under the letter B in the designer's initials J.B.L. on the truncation of the bust. Only 100 or so examples are believed extant in all grades, most of which are AU or Mint State, and all of which are highly desired by the legion of advanced double eagle collectors active in today's market. Few are as attractively original and problem free as the current Fairmont Collection specimen, marking it as a particularly important offering that is worthy of the strongest bids. Provenance: From our sale of the Fairmont Collection - Hendricks Set, Spring 2022 Auction, April, lot 5454. PCGS Population: 10; 22 finer, nine of which are Mint State (MS-63 finest). PCGS# 9003. NGC ID: 26BM. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA. Click here to see Coins in Motion.[“Coins]