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1885 $20 AU58 Prooflike NGC. The 1885 is an instantly

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1885 $20 AU58 Prooflike NGC. The 1885 is an instantly
<B>1885<$20> AU58 Prooflike NGC.</B></I> The 1885 is an instantly recognizable rarity among 19th century U.S. coinage. It is primarily recognizable by the ultra-low mintage of only 751 pieces (second only to the 1882), but secondarily recognizable by its absence in most collections. Only 45-55 pieces are known, and those coins are tightly clustered in the AU grade range. Few are known in XF or lower, and few are known in mint condition. In the past, proof 1885s have served as a substitute for the rarer business strikes. However, today collectors are more sensitive to the differences in rarity as well as finish on coins struck for circulation and proofs. This, of course, has placed even greater pressure on the few known business strikes.<BR> In his recent reference on double eagles, Dave Bowers lists the differences between the two methods of manufacture. This piece is definitely a business strike with the first 8 in the date positioned squarely beneath the B in the designer's initials. Also the 5 in the date is noticeably closer to the dentils than the curl above. However, we disagree with the comment in the Fuljenz-Winter book that states the fields of business strikes do not have the "orange peel" texture of proofs. Close observation of this piece reveals that the protected areas of the devices do indeed display the orange-peel finish seen on many proofs from the 1880s and 1890s.<BR> While NGC has added "Prooflike" to the grade of this coin, it is a moot point as all 1885 twenties have a prooflike finish. Any coin with a mintage as low as the 1885 twenty will certainly show reflectivity in the fields as there were not a sufficient number of strikings for the brightness in the fields of the dies to dull. This prooflike finish, of course, is also responsible for the higher visibility of the numerous abrasions that are scattered over each side. On this piece there are man