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$20 Liberty/No Motto
High Grade Among The Finest 1850 $20 Liberty
1639
1850. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ.
CAC Approved
.
Semi reflective surfaces
on both sides of this majestic near gem! The obverse, particularly the fields
are outstanding in quality and appeal. Type 1 double eagles are seldom
found above a low grade of mint state, even for these so called common
dates. Look at the Population Report of PCGS and the Census of NGC. Rarely
are coins found in choice grades of MS-63 or finer for most dates, the only
real exceptions are the various issues found on shipwrecks. The obverse is
simply stunning, and would easily grade gem were it not for a minor scrape
running roughly horizontal behind Liberty’s ear in her curls. On the reverse
the originality can’t be denied, with a solitary ancient copper speck at the
N of UNITED and faint traces of copper toning elsewhere. Overall this is a
great looking coin for the first major year of production.
Recall that the double eagle or $20 dollar gold coin was first authorized in
1849, coinciding with the floodgates of gold opening from the mines, val-
leys, streams and fields of California. As the gold floated its way across the
oceans to the east, an opportunity to create a new and larger gold eagle
was presented, and sure enough the double eagle was born. This date has
been particularly popular because this is the first year these were produced
for circulation, as the two pattern coins of 1849 were never available even to
collectors.
Pop 2; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 8902)
Estimated Value.................................................................... $50,000-UP
Ex. US Gold from a prominent midwestern family collection.