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1859 $20 PR58 NGC. A fledgling community of numismatis

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:14,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1859 $20 PR58 NGC. A fledgling community of numismatis
<B>1859<$20> PR58 NGC.</B></I> A fledgling community of numismatists in this country prompted the United States Mint in Philadelphia to commence issuing proof gold coinage on a limited basis in the years just prior to the Civil War. The number of proof double eagles recorded as being produced in 1859 (a mere 80 pieces) no doubt proved to too many, as only a handful of recognizable proofs survive today. A couple of the extant specimens, like the coin offered here, were obtained by a collector, but later entered channels of commerce, perhaps prompted by a war or economic downturn. While noticeably mishandled, with innumerable wispy blemishes on the highpoints and exposed fields on each side, this specimen is boldly detailed with a significant amount of watery reflectivity in the areas surrounding the devices. Condition is certainly not this coin's strong suit, but its rarity as a proof striking is paramount. It is currently the only 1859 proof twenty certified by either major service (8/06).