1886 $20, DCAM PR(PCGS#99102)

The November 2011 Baltimore Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

9928

等级

PR63

价格

319,167

详细说明

1886 Liberty Double Eagle. Proof-63 Deep Cameo (PCGS). CAC. An absolutely beautiful example of a really great date for this type. When one thinks of the rare Liberty double eagles, certainly dates like 1870-CC, 1854-O and 1856-O come immediately to mind as these are the ""kings"" of the regular issues in terms of value (not counting the famous 1861 Paquet Reverse). However only specialists might think of the three dates that had the lowest circulation strike mintages of the entire series, the 1882 (571 pieces), 1885 (751) and 1886 (1,000), each with a few proofs struck as well. While circulation strike coins of these dates are very rare, particularly in high grade, the few proof issues available offer collectors an intriguing opportunity to acquire truly exceptional examples of these challenging dates, and such is the case here. The last circulation strike example of the 1886 double eagle we sold appeared in our recent 2011 Chicago ANA Sale. Graded AU-58 (NGC), that piece realized just over $106,000. The present proof has far better eye appeal, a much nicer strike and better overall quality, all at what will likely be a considerably lower price! In short, there seems to be excellent value in a coin like this, and it would be difficult to argue otherwise with this piece in hand. The mirrored fields are bold, dark and deeply reflective, easily deserving of the Deep Cameo designation assigned by PCGS. The devices are sharp and satiny, and contrast nicely. A few minor surface marks are noted, but most are so trivial to be rendered essentially invisible without magnification. For the grade, this is a very attractive coin in hand. PCGS has graded just three Deep Cameo proofs of this date, but it is worth noting that they have assigned grades only 14 times to proof double eagles of 1886, compared with 26 grades assigned to circulation strike coins. The proofs, it would seem, are considerably rarer in terms of survivors than are the circulation strike coins, illustrating on