January 25-28, 2004, The Pre-Long Beach Coin & Currency Auction
Sale 23

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$20 Liberty/With Motto

1866 Proof $20 - Tied for Finest Graded

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3399    1866. With motto. PCGS graded Proof 64 Deep Cameo. A classic Proof rarity with an original mintage of a mere 30 pieces. This example is tied for "Finest Graded" by PCGS, one of only two PR-64DCAM's graded by them (quite possibly the same coin). The obverse is brilliant, with bold cameo contrast between the watery proof fields and the heavily frosted devices. The reverse features equally deep contrast, with a touch of milky iridescence around the peripheries. Identifying features include a small mark just to the left of Liberty's ear lobe and another in the left reverse field just to the right of the T in UNITED. Otherwise, the coin is essentially perfect and certainly every bit a Proof-64.
We had a little trouble finding auction records for this date. Jeff Garrett's and John Dannreuther's "Significant Auction Records 1997-2001" failed to list any. Norweb didn't have one, Trompeter did, Harry Bass had two AU's, and so on. In recent years, the chance to even buy this date in Proof has been rare indeed, almost rarer than the coin itself. Don't let this opportunity slip away. Color photo.
Estimated Value $85,000-95,000.
 

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3400    1871-S. NGC graded AU-55. Quite scarce in high grade.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,150.
 

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3401    1872-CC. NGC graded AU-53. Third rarest of the Type Two Twenties (only the 1870-CC and 1871-CC Twenties are rarer). This one is nice and clean, with only minor bagmarks and lots of original luster. AU-53 is actually a great grade for this date, as anything nicer starts to become both rare and expensive. The finest 1872-CC Double Eagles certified by NGC are four MS-61's.
Estimated Value $5,300-5,700.
 

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3402    1873. Open 3. PCGS graded MS-61. Smewhat baggy on the obverse, but with nice frosty luster on both sides and no indication that this piece ever circulated.
Estimated Value $950-1,000.
 

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3403    1873. Open 3. ANACS graded MS-61. A nice frosty mint example.
Estimated Value $600-700.
 
3404    1874. NGC graded AU-58. Nice golden-orange toning and plenty of luster remains.
Estimated Value $450-500.
 

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3405    1874-CC. SEGS graded AU-58 Light Cleaning. Well struck with traces of mint luster remaining.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.
 

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3406    1876. PCGS graded MS-62. Nice, flashy luster and bright cartwheel brilliance. Slightly baggy (consistent with the grade), but with none of the heavy hits that often plague these, soft, heavy coins. Nice, original appearance. Hard to find any better -- PCGS has graded only 15 examples in MS-64 as the finest of the date.
Estimated Value $2,800-3,500.
 

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3407    1876-S. PCGS graded AU-55. Quite choice for the grade. Plenty of frosty mint luster remains.
Estimated Value $450-500.
 

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3408    1876-S. NGC graded AU-55. Original luster remains, lightly toned.
Estimated Value $450-500.
 

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3409    1877. EF-40.
Estimated Value $370-390.
 

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3410    1877. VF-25.
Estimated Value $330-350.
 

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3411    1879-S. NGC graded EF-45.
Estimated Value $370-390.
 

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3412    1879-S. VF-20. Some marks. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $700-735.
 

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3413    1880-S and 1884-S. Both EF-45. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $740-780.
 

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3414    1881-S. EF-40. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $750-850.
 

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3415    1883-CC. ICG graded EF-45.
Estimated Value $900-1,000.
 

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3416    1883-S. AU-55.
Estimated Value $400-425.
 

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3417    1883-S and 1889-S. Both VF-35. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $700-750.
 

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3418    1885-S. PCGS graded MS-63. A well struck frosty mint beauty that exhibits rich mint bloom color throughout. Although this can be considered a common date, this choice example is anything but common. Population of 170 with only 10 in MS-64 and 1 in MS-65.
Estimated Value $4,500-5,000.
 

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3419    1885-S. PCGS graded MS-62. A nice example, with strong luster and a light blush of milky toning on both sides.
Estimated Value $900-1,000.
 

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3420    1888 Double Die Reverse. ICG graded MS-62. A neat variety with clear doubling on most of the reverse legends, especially on TWENTY DOLLARS. An MS-62 sold in a November 2000 Bowers sale for $3,600.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,650.
 

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3421    1888-S. NGC graded AU-58. Darn close to full mint state.
Estimated Value $400-440.
 

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3422    1888-S. Both EF-45. Each is quite lustrous for the grade. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $725-775.
 

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3423    1890-S. AU-53.
Estimated Value $375-425.
 

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3424    1891-S. NGC graded MS-61.
Estimated Value $400-440.
 

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3425    1891-S. AU-58. Bright and fully lustrous. A few too many light marks about the reverse rims for us to call strictly "BU".
Estimated Value $400-425.
 
3426    1892-S, 1895-S and 1897-S. NGC graded all AU-58. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $1,150-1,250.
 

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3427    1892-S and 1894-S. Both VF-35. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $700-750.
 

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3428    1894. NGC graded MS-60. Lustrous and baggy.
Estimated Value $400-425.
 

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3429    1895. NGC graded MS-64. Attractive light golden-orange mint color. Pop of 257 with only 9 higher, all by a single point.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,400.
 

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3430    1895. NGC graded MS-61. Bright, lustrous and baggy.
Estimated Value $400-440.
 

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3431    1895 and 1898-S. Both VF-20. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $700-750.
 

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3432    1895-S. NGC graded MS-61. Nice golden toning.
Estimated Value $400-440.
 

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3433    1897. NGC graded MS-61. Lustrous and scuffy.
Estimated Value $400-440.
 

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3434    1897-S. NGC graded MS-61. Nice golden toning.
Estimated Value $400-440.
 

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3435    1898-S. NGC graded MS-61. Mint color intact.
Estimated Value $400-440.
 

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3436    1899. NGC graded MS-62. A nice allotment of mint frost.
Estimated Value $450-500.
 

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3437    1899-S. NGC graded MS-61.
Estimated Value $400-450.
 

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3438    1899-S. AU-55.
Estimated Value $375-425.
 

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3439    1900. NGC graded MS-64. Nice original mint bloom color.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,300.
 

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3440    1900-S. EF-40. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $725-775.
 

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3441    1902. NGC graded AU-58. A slightly better date to due its lower mintage of 31,254.
Estimated Value $450-500.
 

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3442    1902-S and 1903-S. NGC graded both AU-58. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $750-800.
 

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3443    1904. NGC graded MS-65 star PQ. A well struck beauty with great eye appeal thus the NGC "Star" designation. The star is well deserved as this brilliant gem glitters with original mint color. Pop of 1 with 132 in MS-66 and 1 in MS-67.
Estimated Value $2,800-3,200.
 

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3444    1904. PCGS graded MS-64. Nice golden toning. Housed in an older-generation, green-label PCGS holder.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,300.
 

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3445    1904. NGC graded MS-64. Semi-prooflike, with a crisp, chrome-like luster on both sides. A very unusual, yet impressive, format for this date.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,300.
 

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3446    1904. PCGS graded MS-63. Quite lustrous with golden-orange mint color. In an old green holder.
Estimated Value $700-750.
 

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3447    1904. NGC graded MS-62. Nice and lustrous.
Estimated Value $425-450.
 

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3448    1904. NGC graded MS-61.
Estimated Value $400-440.
 

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3449    1904. AU-50.
Estimated Value $375-425.
 

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3450    1904-S. NGC graded MS-64. Pleasing light orange toning.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,300.
 

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3451    1906-D. AU-50.
Estimated Value $375-425.
 

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3452    1907. NGC graded MS-63. A very lustrous example of the last of the issue of the Liberty head design.
Estimated Value $700-750.
 

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3453    1877, 1878 and 1882-S. NGC graded AU-55 AU-53 and AU-58 respecively. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,200.
 

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3454    1878 and 1889-S. Both VF-20. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $700-750.
 

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3455    1890-S, 1898-S and 1899. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $1,050-1,150.
 

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3456    1893, 1893-S and 1895. NGC graded all AU-55. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,200.
 

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3457    1891-S Money Clip. AU-50. A Double Eagle mounted in a heavy 14kt. gold money clip.
Estimated Value $550-650.