Description
This is a 1850-O $20 LIBERTY GOLD DOUBLE EAGLE – PCGS XF-45, WELL-STRUCK, NICE FOR DATE. THE 1850-O $20 IS SOMEWHAT OF AN ENIGMA. AS, 1850 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF $20 GOLD STRUCK FOR CIRCULATION AND COMMERCE, IT WOULD GO TO REASON THAT THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST BRANCH MINT $20 GOLD. 141,000 PIECES WERE STRUCK, WHICH FOR THE TIME WAS AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY. NEW ORLEANS WAS ALSO A COMMERICIAL HUB AND OUR CENTRAL SOUTHERN PORT, AND CONSEQUENTLY, A COMMERCIAL HUB. MOST 1850-O $20s WERE RELEASED INTO CIRCULATION OR REPATRIOTED YEARS LATER AFTER SPENDING TIME IN EUROPEAN BANK VAULTS; UNCIRCULATED EXAMPLES ARE VERY RARE. THIS WAS A COIN NEEDED TO FILL A ROLE IN COMMERCE, SO PRESERVING THEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS WAS NOT A PRIORITY. CONSERVATIVE SURVIVAL ESTIMATES ARE UNDER 650 KNOWN EXAMPLES IN ALL GRADES. THE PRESENT EXAMPLE SHOWS ONLY LIGHT CIRCULATION WITH TRACES OF ORIGINAL LUSTER IN THE PROTECTED AREAS. FROM AN EYE APPEAL STANDPOINT, IT IS WELL ABOVE AVERAGE, AND ESPECIALLY SO FOR THE ASSIGNED GRADE. WE THINK YOU WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A NICER COIN SOUTH OF AN AU GRADE! Our commitment is to provide you with quality coins and collectibles at the best possible prices. This piece is no exception. Please note, the coin and collectibles markets do fluctuate, and prices occasionally will change. In this rare circumstance, we will contact you first to verify your order.
