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1920-S $20 MS61 PCGS. Despite a not insignificant mint

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:26,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1920-S $20 MS61 PCGS. Despite a not insignificant mint
<B>1920-S<$20> MS61 PCGS.</B></I> Despite a not insignificant mintage of 558,000 pieces, the 1920-S has long been regarded as one of the premier rarities in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series. Excluding the 1927-D and 1933 (both of which are considered non-collectible), the 1920-S is the second-rarest Saint-Gaudens issue, behind the 1921. It is also the first date from this challenging decade to have been extensively melted. A Mint State '20-S double eagle is a rare coin whose appearance at auction is sure to inspire spirited bidding.<BR> Prior to 1950, the 1920-S was generally overshadowed by a number of other issues, including the 1924-S, 1925-D, 1927-D, 1931-D, and others. Since 1950, most of those other dates have seen their existing populations swelled by the discovery of hoarded coins in Europe and Latin America. Not so the 1920-S. Not even a small hoard of '20-S coins has emerged, thus far, and with the passage of time it seems less and less likely that any ever will. At present, 92 examples of the issue have been certified in Mint State grades by NGC and PCGS combined (including an unknown number of resubmissions), a total which is slightly higher than some previous estimates of the issue's extant population, but seems unlikely to increase to any significant extent in the future.<BR> This coin is one of only two MS61 examples known to PCGS (6/06), and seems conservatively graded as such. The strike is generally free of criticism, and the eye appeal is impressive. With bright, satiny features, the number of abrasions is minimal, and most features are well defined, except for the typically weak Capitol building and Liberty's torch hand. As befits the issue, both sides are richly frosted with beautiful reddish-gold color. A significant bidding opportunity for advanced gold collectors.