1855-O $20 Liberty. EF-45. Sharpness of a higher grade, but cleaned in the fields which left the usual telltale hairlines. Boldly struck for the date, with full stars and mountainous curls on Liberty. Identifiable by a minute planchet flaw above Liberty's bust tip, and a pin prick flaw on either side and distant from the date. The reverse also has smooth, even wear and is identifiable by a bagmark to the right of the mintmark. Mintage for the year plunged to 8,000 coins as the San Francisco Mint came on line, reducing the need for subsidiary mint coinage. Excellent rims that show none of the usual bangs and bumps. PCGS has not graded any in mint state, but NGC has awarded two as MS 60 and a single as MS 61. In other words, don't wait for a better one to appear, it may be a long time.
Previously from Superior Galleries sale, February 2, 1993, lot 1485 as MS 60+; Superior Galleries sale, February 4, 1992, lot 2941 (AU-58).
