LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2007 Jan (FUN) Heritage Signature Coin #422  / 

3265

1908-S $20 MS66 PCGS. The 1908-S, with a mintage of on

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:75,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 2.00 USD
1908-S $20 MS66 PCGS. The 1908-S, with a mintage of on
<B>1908-S $20 MS66 PCGS.</B></I> The 1908-S, with a mintage of only 22,000 pieces, has the lowest production of any issue in the Saint-Gaudens series except for the Ultra High Relief and High Relief. Roger Burdette's mint archival research sheds light on reason's for this low mintage: "San Francisco was the last mint to receive dies and collars for the new double eagles. Blueprints were sent from Philadelphia on March 17 and a month later it was discovered that the presses did not have enough clearance to allow the edge collar mechanism to operate. Once the dies were on hand, the mint still had considerable difficulty in adapting their presses to the segmented edge collar. It wasn't until September 10 that double eagles again flowed from the western mint, but they managed to produce only 22,000 of the new coins by year's end."<BR> As with some other San Francisco dates, but unlike many other Saint-Gaudens issues in general, there was apparently an effort to place 1908-S twenties into the channels of commerce, as a larger number of circulated examples than Uncirculated ones are in the marketplace (in this regard, it is instructive to note that PCGS and NGC have to date certified about 460 circulated specimens and approximately 240 Mint State coins). Most Uncirculated pieces grade through MS64. Fewer than 20 Gems are known, and just about 15 Premium Gems and five Superb Gems have been certified.<BR> The MS66 representative we present here displays the thick mint frost and rich orange-gold color that are typical of this issue. Further enhancing the coin's eye appeal is the well-executed strike that manifests itself in the sharply defined features of Liberty, the Capitol building, and the eagle. Much of this sharpness of detail likely comes from a strengthened obverse hub that is seen on twenties beginning with the 1908 With Motto issue. Both sides of this lovely example are impeccably preserved, and reveal no flaws that might be considered detracting. We simply point to a minute mark in the field beneath Liberty's flowing hair and another at the top of the ray closest to her left (right facing) breast, both of which may help to identify the coin.<BR><I>From The Kutasi Collection.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coin/Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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