Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 32

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Gold Proof Set/$20's

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 2550		1899 Proof Set. The complete 10 piece set including gold! Each coin is described as follows: Cent: NGC PF-65 Red. A virtual spot-free gem with delicate golden wheat toning. NGC reports 22. Nickel: NGC PF-65. Brilliant with light natural pastel toning. NGC reports 137. Dime: NGC PF-67. A stunning array of vivid rainbow tones. NGC reports 24. Quarter: NGC PF-68. A magnificent blending of natural light rainbow tones favoring the violets. NGC reports 6 with none higher (Ex Eliasberg). Half Dollar: NGC PF-64 Cameo. Stunning light golden iridescence radiates off Miss Liberty. NGC reports 5. Silver Dollar: NGC PF-67 Cameo. A dazzling creamy white pristine gem. NGC reports 8. Quarter Eagle ($2.50): NGC PF-66 Ultra Cameo. A magnificent golden-orange gem. NGC reports 5. Half Eagle ($5.00): NGC PF-64 Ultra Cameo. A spectacular two-tone golden-orange beauty. Two minute hairlines on the cheek, mentioned for identification only. NGC reports 1. Eagle ($10.00): NGC PF-65 Cameo. Another exquisite golden-orange two-tone gem. NGC reports 9. Double Eagle ($20.00): NGC PF-65 Ultra Cameo. A perfect match with the other gold coins in the set. The raised devices look like a carved cameo gem against the brilliant golden-orange fields. NGC reports 3. With the striking of this set, the last made in the 19th century, the precision and workmanship of the mint was at a high. The result is a more aesthetically pleasing proof finish than those produced later, 1902 thru 1907 in the all brilliant finish. Later this year, Charles Duell commissioner of the U.S. Patent Office, declared that "everything that can be invented has been invented." Only around 80 gold proof coins were struck this year with less than half still extant in all grades. We are proud to offer this beautifully well matched set, a true numismatic treasure. Lot of 10 coins. Estimated Value $125,000 - 150,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $189,750
Lot 2551		1856-S $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-65 PQ. Lovely gem. Full mint bloom. Pop 6; 2 in 66. Gorgeous bright frosty luster, essentially "as struck" -- an incredible coin if you have never seen one of these stunning double eagles! The mint at San Francisco opened for business in 1854 in response to the flood of gold bullion issuing from California's Sierra Nevada mother lodes. From gold's discovery in 1848 until the mint began taking deposits of bullion, a number of private mints operated in this part of the state. Much of the issue from San Francisco went east through various means to satisfy the needs of commerce and for use as export. Of the double eagles that stayed behind in California, most were used as currency since the state's residents rejected paper money of any kind. This is the main reason why double eagles are found circulated (often heavily so) and only rarely in fresh mint condition. The Mint State 65 offered here is quite naturally among the finest in existence and an exciting coin for us to offer at auction. Most of the S. S. Central America double eagles, of which this may be a part, were dated 1857-S not 1856-S, and then only a few thousand frosty original coins exist out of the original mintage. These trace to the shipwreck of the passenger liner S. S. Central America, which floundered off the East Coast in a storm late in 1857. On the history of the $20 denomination itself: one of the consequences of the immense discoveries of gold in California was an increase in gold bullion coming to the Philadelphia Mint for coinage. Authorities felt that large-scale domestic or international transactions payable in gold should be made in more compact form than eagles or smaller denominations. Accordingly, Rep. James Iver McKay (D.N.C.) was persuaded to introduce an amendment to his Gold Dollar bill, Feb. 1849, which would authorize coinage also of $20s, to be called Double Eagles. These were to weigh 516 grains = 33.436 grams, a little over a troy ounce each, and be roughly comparable in value to several Latin American denominations (PCGS # 8919) . Estimated Value $25,000 - 30,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $32,200
Lot 2552		1856-S $20 Liberty. NGC graded MS-61 PQ. Lovely satiny and frosty mint surfaces. Far fewer marks than one would expect for this grade. There is some contrasting brownish "rubbed gold" accent on the cheek and topmost hair waves. All stars are outstanding for their crisp detail. Possibly part of the S. S. Central America group of Double Eagles, this 1856-S bears no similarity to the more granular surfaces that are an indication of the "saltwater" Uncs from the Fort Capron treasure ship. Thus, much more desirable because the luster is fresh and gleaming (PCGS # 8919) . Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2553		1861 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-62. Well struck with pale peach toning over amber gold surfaces which are quite clean for the assigned grade. Breen-7207, where the author interestingly mentions "Mostly coined from melted type I gold dollars." Pop 60 with 39 finer (PCGS # 8932) . Estimated Value $5,200 - 5,800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,038
Lot 2554		1871-CC $20 Liberty. NGC graded MS-64. Light golden toning. Well struck with semi prooflike surfaces. A word of caution: you will sell your soul to the Devil to own this coin, and so will many others. Therefore, bidders should plan ahead for stiff competition. We present the most remarkable 1871-CC double eagle of them all, a coin not seen in some time, a resplendent Mint State 64 specimen. Although NGC suggests a grade of Mint State 64, some observers who are familiar with this coin's heritage may assign an even higher grade. The piece displays spectacular luster and color, strike definition and rims. What's even more remarkable, there are no hidden "gotchas!" such as scratches in the hair or repaired rim bruises. Therefore, among 1871-CC twenties this is it, this is The Coin to own if your tastes run to this most aristocratic gold denomination of them all, the $20 series. Most are in the EF range and, often, are lifeless and dull in appearance with plenty of marks. The present '71-CC is quite bright and has so much "life" to it you'll come to love it at first sighting. The photographs do it justice. But first-hand experience examining it yourself will double the pleasure. For the record, a mere 17,387 1871-CC double eagles were minted. Today, it is believed that only about 150 to 200 exist in the entire world of numismatics, making it the second rarest Carson City coin of this denomination, on the heels of the 1870-CC (not nipping the heels, for only about 50 are known of that earlier, rarer variety). Although later Carson City double eagles seem to have been exported in quantity, this does not seem to have been the case for the first several years. It is our view that most if not all 1871-CC coins circulated regionally, where they experienced heavy use in commerce. At the time, $20 gold pieces did not circulate at all in the East and Midwest, where paper money was the preferred medium. Only on the Pacific littoral and into the nearby interior of the western states could one find $20 gold pieces circulating. Because of this it is a general rule of thumb that Carson City and San Francisco twenties are usually seen in significantly lower grades than are Philadelphia issues. When evaluating any double eagle the subject of eye appeal is quite important. Often, early Carson City coins of all denominations lack this feature. Not so with the present 1871-CC. A glance or two at its photographs will captivate you into bidding liberally (we hope), entirely justified based on the rarity and unmatched quality. According to Mitch Battino of Hudson Coins in New York (who has handled the sale of this coin on two occassions) and confirmed by noted gold coin specialist Paul Nugget, this is the discovery coin found in Europe by Eddie Shaprio in the late 70s. "There has never been any coin before or since approching the quality of this monumental coin." The finest Pop 1: none finer by either service. Bidding will commence at $375,000 (PCGS # 8961) . Estimated Value $375,000-UP. Sold privately by Eddie Shaprio. First auction appearance: The A. Bernard Shore Auction Feb. 1988, lot 4414 as the "Finest Known", when we owned an operated Superior Galleries (prior to 1994). Last appeared at the 2004 ANA Heritage, lot 7586. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2555		1872-CC $20 Liberty. NGC graded AU-53. Pop 40; 88 finer. A lustrous lightly toned gold example of this rarity from the early days of the Carson City Mint. The surfaces are free of most marks, and the eye appeal is well within the parameters expected for the grade. Of the 26,900 double eagles produced this year, very few remain in the About Uncirculated range, and in Mint State the date is a great rarity. The Winter reference on the Carson City Mint suggests that perhaps 175 to 200 exist in all grades, and notes that the date is: "Common in VF and can easily be located in EF. Lower-end AU coins are scarce but can be found with some patience." An opportunity for the double eagle specialist and Carson City Mint enthusiast alike (PCGS # 8964) . Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,670
Lot 2556		1872-CC $20 Liberty. PCGS graded VF-35. Normal wear but not normal "tear" since there are fewer than average field and device abrasions from its journey through circulation. Most 1872-CC twenties come pretty well banged up. Scarce (PCGS # 8964) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,668
Lot 2557		1874-CC $20 Liberty. NGC graded EF-45. Lightly toned. Popular Carson City Double Eagle and always in demand (PCGS # 8971) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,438
Lot 2558		1875-CC $20 Liberty. NGC graded EF-45. Light golden-orange toning (PCGS # 8974) . Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,323
Lot 2559		1876 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-55. Nice for the grade, frosty and attractive. The Type 2 was produced from 1866 until 1876 and has the denomination abbreviated to TWENTY D (PCGS # 8976) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $776
Lot 2560		1876-CC $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-55. Nice lustrious example. Pop 180 (PCGS # 8977) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,185
Lot 2561		1877-CC $20 Liberty. NGC graded EF-45 (PCGS # 8983) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,553
Lot 2562		1878 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-61. Nice lustrious example. Pop 108; 167 finer. (PCGS # 8985) . Estimated Value $575 - 650. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $891
Lot 2563		1885-S $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-55. Old green holder. Lustrous (PCGS # 9005) . Estimated Value $425 - 450. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $575
Lot 2564		1890-CC $20 Liberty. PCGS graded EF-45. Some scattered marks on the face and in the field, but generally well preserved for this often problematic CC-mint issue (PCGS # 9014) . Estimated Value $850 - 900. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,006
Lot 2565		1891-S $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-63. The limited number of survivors in choice condition never fail to attract bidders when they appear at auction. In addition to unqualified technical choiceness, this 1891-S's desirability is enhanced by natural surface color (PCGS # 9018) . Estimated Value $3,400 - 3,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,370
Lot 2566		1900-S $20 Liberty. Some light scuffs on the obverse but generally attractive for this San Francisco mint issue. Estimated Value $475 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $575
Lot 2567		1900-S $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-61. A frosty coin with scattered bagmarks including one on the chin. Two or three softly struck stars on the left (PCGS # 9038) . Estimated Value $475 - 500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $546
Lot 2568		1903 $20 Liberty. EF-40. Cleaned. Estimated Value $425 - 450. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $540
Lot 2569		1903-S $20 Liberty. Each AU-58. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $900 - 950. View details	Realized $1,553
Lot 2570		1904 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-64. A gorgeous, intensely lustrous example with remarkably clean fields throught (PCGS # 9045) . Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,610
Lot 2571		1904 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-62 PQ. Attractive natural golden-orange mint color and deserving of our Premium Quality designation (PCGS # 9045) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $719
Lot 2572		1904 $20 Liberty. AU-55. Lustrous and well struck for the issue. Estimated Value $425 - 475. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $570
Lot 2573		1904-S $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice bright example with a small mark by the eye and others on the face and inthe field (PCGS # 9046) . Estimated Value $625 - 700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $805
Lot 2574		1906-D $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-62. Lightly toned on both sides, a few marks on the cheek and jaw (PCGS # 9050) . Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $776
Lot 2575		1906-D $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-62. Lightly toned (PCGS # 9050) . Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $834
Lot 2576		1906-D $20 Liberty. AU-58. Minor friction on the high points; luster almost 95% complete. Estimated Value $450 - 475. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,438
Lot 2577		1907 $20 St. Gaudens. High relief, Roman numerals, wire rim. PCGS graded MS-64. A satiny Mint State 64 with faint rose and booming fresh surfaces that explode atop the bright and hard-working luster beneath. Not one iota of weakness of strike is seen at the bold figure of Liberty. Nor are there any soft areas on the eagle, which is one of the most strikingly beautiful designs ever conceived for an American coin! For the obverse design Saint-Gaudens selected a standing figure known as Fame and originally created as part of the Sherman Victory monument erected earlier in the decade at the Grand Army Plaza at the southeast corner of Central Park, New York City. Some modifications were made, but the goddess remains essentially the same. In the background is a depiction of the United States Capitol building and resplendent rays of the sun (PCGS # 9135) . Estimated Value $25,000 - 27,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2578		1907 $20 St. Gaudens. High relief, Roman numerals, wire rim. PCGS graded MS-64. One of the dreams in a collector's life is to own a fresh, lustrous example of this celebrated coin. For this isn't just any coin, but a lustrous, fully struck up Mint State 64 with grand eye-appeal and no problems on either side. The boldness is outstanding. Accomplishing a complete strike was highly damaging to the dies on the 1907 high reliefs, and most show minor die cracks or other types of coining strain. Records show that the dies for these coins were made by Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber from Saint-Gaudens' plaster mould. Barber, who did not like anyone impinging on his mint privileges, did his utmost to sabotage production of the high relief. Soon Barber got his way, a greatly reduced relief design was employed in late 1907, just months after the original design was adopted, but not before slightly more than 11,000 of these marvelous high relief twenties were coined. The wire rim is seen on most examples is caused by metal flowing up from the three piece edge collar and dies producing a thin raised "fin" around part of the obverse and reverse margin. Examination with a glass will note only a few stray tick marks, nothing important or distracting. The strike is, of course, full and complete. Liberty seems to stride forward right off into your face, while the eagle's wings extend out across the solar glare of the morning sky (PCGS # 9135) . Estimated Value $25,000 - 27,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $29,900
Lot 2579		1907 $20 St. Gaudens. High relief, Roman numerals, wire rim. PCGS graded MS-63 PQ. Nice for the grade and yet another mouth-watering High Relief double eagle, considered by many to be America's most beautiful coin design. When the double eagles were released into circulation in December 1907, they were widely publicized, highly acclaimed, and a scramble ensued to acquire them. All of this turned out to be propitious for the numismatic community, for somewhere around 5,000 to 6,000 or so survive today, most in varying degrees of Mint State, although relatively few in the premium quality preservation found here. Design: Goddess striding or walking forward, called Fame by the artist, variously called Victory or Liberty by others. Reverse with eagle flying horizontally to the left (PCGS # 9135) . Estimated Value $22,000 - 24,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2580		1907 $20 St. Gaudens. High relief, Roman numerals, wire rim. PCGS graded MS-63. A nice yellow gold piece with notable luster and reddish toning, the devices on this handsome coin were struck with methodical precision throughout. Approximately 7,250 were struck with partial wire rim and about 4,000 with flat (without wire) rim. This was publicized in 1908, soon after striking, and for a long time thereafter many listings included these as separate varieties. The matter was not one of a different die, but simply a spacing in the collar which allowed metal to squeeze upward from the rim; such wire rims, sometimes called "knife rims" or, in Mint parlance, "fins," are common elsewhere, such as in 19th century Proof coinage. The medallic MCMVII issue with high relief required several cycles of the medal press at an extremely high pressure of 172 tons for each example. The requirement of multiple cycles was an unreasonable expectation for production, so dies were prepared with much shallower depth. These coins with the "1907" date and low relief were created with just a single cycles of the regular coining press (PCGS # 9135) . Estimated Value $21,000 - 23,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2581		1907 $20 St. Gaudens. High relief, Roman numerals, wire rim. ANACS graded Net MS-60. Cleaned. Some minor rim nicks. Untoned. The great relief on these coins harkens to the majestic high-relief coins of the ancient Greeks. Augustus Saint-Gaudens' intention to recreate the legendary coinage of those days succeeded better than anyone expected. Many believe that America's 1907 high relief $20 gold coinage is the most beautiful design ever conceived for a coin, here in the U.S. or around the world. Saint-Gaudens might have had humility to disagree but just the same, he was justificably honored for this marvelous design (PCGS # 9135) . Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $13,225
Lot 2582		1907 $20 St. Gaudens. Flat relief, Arabic numerals. PCGS graded MS-62. Lustrous though with a few soft areas in the strike (PCGS # 9141) . Estimated Value $575 - 625. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $679
Lot 2583		1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No motto. PCGS graded MS-63 (PCGS # 9142) . Estimated Value $475 - 500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $780
Lot 2584		1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No motto. Each MS-60. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $900 - 950. View details	Realized $1,265
Lot 2585		1908 $20 St. Gaudens. No motto. AU-53. Estimated Value $425 - 450. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $552
Lot 2586		1910-S $20 St. Gaudens. AU-50 to AU-55. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $900 - 950. View details	Realized $978
Lot 2587		1912 $20 St. Gaudens. EF-45. Only 149,824 pieces minted. There were no double eagles struck at the branch mints in 1912 for some reason. Estimated Value $425 - 450. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $575
Lot 2588		1913-D $20 St. Gaudens. MS-60. Scattered marks on Liberty, though still lustrous. Estimated Value $475 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $575
Lot 2589		1914-S $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded MS-65. Light even toning. This example is quite pleasing with good luster and splashes of almost peach-orange patina on each side. No deviation in the sharp relief seen, either, not even in the centers of the coin. Pop 677; 35 in 66; none finer. (PCGS # 9166) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,553
Lot 2590		1916-S $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded AU-58 (PCGS # 9169) . Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $600
Lot 2591		1920 $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck and quite frosty. Nice organish golden mint color. Although considered a "common date" in lower grades, this choice example is anything but common. PCGS reports 314 with only 1 better by a point (PCGS # 9170) . Estimated Value $3,300 - 3,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2592		1923-D $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded MS-65. Excellent eye-appeal due to the golden-orange mint bloom color (PCGS # 9176) . Estimated Value $1,150 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,323
Lot 2593		1924 $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded MS-64. Frosty with original luster (PCGS # 9177) . Estimated Value $575 - 625. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $776
Lot 2594		1924 $20 St. Gaudens. Mint State 60 or better. Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details	Realized $604
Lot 2595		1924-S $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded MS-64. Nicely toned and well struck. Pop 125; 2 in 65, 1 in 67. This attractive example is singularly free of bagmarks for the grade. Close inspection reveals a few wispy handling marks on both sides, but the luster is unimpeded with swirling cartwheel sheen on both sides. Golden-rose blending into rich orange-gold colors are well blended over well struck features. Once considered a great rarity among Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles, the 1924-S was more highly priced than such stars as the 1920-S, 1921, 1927-D and 1933. The appearance of numerous pieces in Europe however has reset the rarity standing of the '24-S so that it is now regarded as a semi-key date. The date is still, however, a condition rarity with most survivors grading below the present grade level (PCGS # 9179) . Estimated Value $11,000 - 13,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $11,500
Lot 2596		1924-S $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded MS-63 PQ. Nice frosty example with some scattered marks on Liberty as usual for this grade. Pop 128; 125 in 64, 2 in 65; 1 in 67 (PCGS # 9179) . Decades ago, the heavily melted '24-S double eagle was considered to be one of, if not the rarest Saint-Gaudens issue. A modest migration from Europe over the past thirty years now places this issue as a median scarcity in the series, being very similar in both overall population and condition rarity to the '24-D. Survivors tend to range in grade from AU 58 to MS63. Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $8,625
Lot 2597		1925 $20 St. Gaudens. MS-60 Plus. Attractive color. Estimated Value $475 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $920
Lot 2598		1925-S $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded AU-58. Nice example. The 1925-S is a well-known key to this series. Unlike other issues of this type like the 1924-D, 1925-D, and 1926-S, the 1925-S is seen most often in slightly worn grades. Pop 67. (PCGS # 9182) . Estimated Value $3,500 - 3,800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,038
Lot 2599		1925-S $20 St. Gaudens. PCGS graded AU-58. This is a pleasing lustrous specimen whose reddish-gold features are alive with rich mint frost. The fully detailed surfaces are knocking on the door of an even higher grade, with only a slight bit of friction noted on the highest points of Liberty's body and knee. Pop 67. (PCGS # 9182) . Estimated Value $3,500 - 3,800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,325

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