May 28, 2001, The Fairchild Family Trust Collection, Sale 10

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$20 Gold

Lot 1551 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1852. NGC graded AU-58. Clean for the grade, with most of the mint luster still present. Well struck and worth a strong bid.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.

Lot 1552
1852. NGC graded AU-58. Well struck but we note minor hairlines in the fields. One spot by the second star in the denticles.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.

Lot 1553 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1852-O. PCGS graded AU-58. One of the nicer examples of this date to survive, the fields are prooflike and reflective, while the devices are mint fresh with frost. Fully struck on each star and central device and quite appealing. None of the typical heavy bagmarks here, just light tiny ticks always seen. PCGS has graded 20 this high with just 7 graded higher. A scarce date when compared with the more common Philadelphia issues of the era, and worth a strong bid. Rarely are these large gold coins found so problem free.
Estimated Value $7,000-8,000.

Lot 1554 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1853. NGC graded AU-58. Some luster in the fields and well struck. We note minor paste in the lettering and devices.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.

Lot 1555 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1853-O. NGC graded AU-55. Well struck on the devices with the fields a bit prooflike. A popular example of an early mintmarked $20 for the date collector.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.

Lot 1556 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1853-O. PCGS graded EF-45. Nice surfaces for the grade, with minor handling marks and nice color. Well struck, but missing a bit of the "O" Mintmark, which must have been weakly struck on the lower left. One for the collector.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,500.

Lot 1557
1856-S. VF-30. Light wear but some luster in the fields and well struck. Original copper toning makes this an appealing coin.
Estimated Value $450-500.

Lot 1558
1861. EF-40. Nice surfaces for the grade, although there are some trivial hairlines.
Estimated Value $450-500.

Lot 1559 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1861-S. PCGS graded AU-50. This one spent quite a bit of time in a bag being jostled about as the surfaces show a multitude of tiny marks. Mint luster near the devices and typical of the large but soft gold coins of the period.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,200.

Lot 1560 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1863-S. NGC graded MS-60. Flashy luster in the fields and we note that the handling marks are pretty minimal for the grade. Liberty has a nice cheek, without the usual gouges or deep cuts. Further, the strike is adequate, with strong details on the high points. This does not appear to be a sea water coin recovered from the Brother Jonathan wreck, but we can't be certain. We are sure that this is a nice coin for the grade, and that most collectors would be quite proud of owning it.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,000.

Lot 1561 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1863-S. EF-40. Nice for the grade, with fewer marks than usually encountered. Some luster in the fields and well struck.
Estimated Value $500-550.

Lot 1562
1868-S. EF-40. Nice luster remains, but the surfaces have the usual hairlines and minor handling marks on both sides.
Estimated Value $450-550.

Lot 1563
1869-S. EF-45. Flashy luster in the fields, but there are hairlines on the surfaces. We also note a small impurity on Liberty's neck which is white in color and appears to have caused when the planchet was rolled out. There are some ticks on Liberty's face too, but still a nice coin of this popular date and mint.
Estimated Value $450-550.

Lot 1564
1872. EF-45. Bright and untoned, this coin boasts loads of mint luster, enough to make it appear AU in fact, but numerous small handling marks keep it down a bit. The reverse is very nice, and the strike is strong throughout.
Estimated Value $400-500.

Lot 1565
1873-S. EF-45. Luster in the fields and well struck, minimal handling marks for the grade.
Estimated Value $325-375.

Lot 1566
1878-S Mint Error, Minor Lamin. Flap Obv. PCGS graded AU-55. Liberty has a nice long gold flap sticking up above her ear, like a trap door it invites the imagination into the center of the coin. Typical handling marks, and with abundant luster. Quite a story could be made up about this one.
Estimated Value $400-500.

Lot 1567 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1879-CC. SEGS graded AU-55. A rare date in high grade, only 10,708 were coined and precious few are found in high grade. This one has flashy luster and clean surfaces for the most part, but we must note a series of digs just below the eigth star into Liberty's head and a pretty good hit on the shield, hidden by the vertical lines there. With mint state coins downright rare, and almost always abraided, this coin should be considered one of the better ones known.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,000.

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