1908 $20 No Motto - Wells Fargo MS(PCGS#99142)

The August 2013 Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

4607

Grade

MS69

Price

76,375

Lot Description

Superb Gem 1908 No Motto Double Eagle Tied For the Finest Graded of the Entire Series 1908 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. No Motto. MS-69 (PCGS). The mint luster is radiant and the strike sharp for this early Saint-Gaudens issue. The quality is virtually off the charts as such a grade simply did not exist prior to a hoard of these double eagles was discovered. The eye appeal is extraordinary. While a considerable quantity of 1908 No Motto double eagles were struck -- 4,271,551 pieces -- to date this is one of the ten finestseen. Of course, of the number coined only a small percentage is known today as the vast majority were melted long ago. While this issue was always available in various grades, the numbers were altered considerably with the discovery of a large hoard of this particular date that was handled by our own Ron Gillio in the early 1990s. The hoard contained 19,900 double eagles, and they were of incredible quality. Apparently undisturbed since 1917 these bags of 1908 No Motto coins came to light and were named "The Wells Fargo Hoard" from the location where they were stored. The finest coins of this hoard offered unbelievable quality, many Superb Gems that otherwise would never have been available. The most stunning ten coins of this Hoard earned the coveted MS-69 grade from PCGS, and are the only coins of the type so designated this superb by PCGS. PCGS# 99142. Provenance: From the Bentley Shores Collection. Earlier ex: Wells Fargo Nevada Gold. PCGS Population: 10; none finer.