6536

1907 $20 Large Letter, Trompeter PR64 NGC. 1907[$20] Large Letters PR64 NGC.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:60,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1907 $20 Large Letter, Trompeter PR64 NGC. 1907[$20] Large Letters PR64 NGC.
<B>1907<$20> Large Letters PR64 NGC.</B></I> Ex: Trompeter. Again, like the Small Letters above, the Large Letters Arabic twenty is technically a pattern, although unrecognized as such in the literature. The year 1907 was one of great experimentation in the mint, and great diversity is seen in the double eagle series. In this single year, coins were struck as Ultra High Reliefs, proof High Reliefs, regular High Reliefs with a wire rim, regular High Reliefs with a flat rim, lowered relief proofs from both Collar I and Collar II, and low relief business strikes. This Large Letters proof edge variant is apparently unique. The Ultra High Reliefs had the largest edge lettering in the series, followed by the regular issue High Reliefs with collars I and II. Collar I was either used in error or experimentally on this matte proof and only one coin was produced. Coins with Collar I read: I * * * * * * * E * I P L U R I B U S I * U N U M * * * * I. To further distinguish this coin from its earlier, Small Letters counterpart, the Collar I coins show the bases of M in UNUM level, but on Collar II coins they are slanted. We believe the Large Letters Arabic Numerals proof was produced <I>after</B></I> the Small Letters proof striking(s). We base this belief on the presence of an area of die polishing seen around 9 o'clock on the obverse rim. Such an area of die polish would surely have been present and visible on an earlier striking, and it is for this reason that we conclude that this piece was struck after the Small Letters proof(s). Also, this piece shows complete definition on the Capitol building, indicating mint personnel had a better grasp of how many tons of pressure to apply to strike this coin than the Small Letters piece, which displays obvious softness on the Capitol. <BR> This particular coin is most easily identifiable by a shallow, horizontal planchet flake located to the left of the branch stem held in Liberty's right (facing) hand, Also, there are minor planchet imperfections around the eagle's beak. Lightly hairlined in the fields, but really quite pleasing with brighter surfaces than seen on matte proofs struck the following year, and actually more closely resembling the "Roman Finish" of 1909-1910 in overall appearance. Medium orange-gold coloration is seen over each side of this impressive and apparently unique proof striking.<BR><I>Ex: Captain North cased set; New England Rare Coin Galleries; Ken Goldman; Hatie Collection (Bowers), lot 2855; Trompeter Collection; Heritage private sale, 1999.</B></I><BR><I>From The Phillip H. Morse Collection of Saint-Gaudens Coinage.</B></I>