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FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251  4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Lot 5999

Starting price: 1 USD
Price realized: 60 000 USD
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Liberty Double Eagles
1860 $20 MS64 PCGS. Ex: H.W. Bass, Jr. This Choice Mint State piece is one of the three finest examples that has ever been submitted to PCGS. Doug Winter reports that the finest known 1860 double eagle is an MS65 NGC coin that was recovered with the S.S. Republic treasure, a Gem that was never available to Mr. Bass. The S.S. Republic treasure yielded 43 of the 152 certified Mint State examples of this issue. Although this date is considered common when all grades are considered, it emerges as a premier rarity in MS64 and finer grades. The finest 1860 double eagles are the following:

MS65 NGC. From the S.S. Republic treasure and offered in our Long Beach Signature sale (9/2006), lot 4046.
MS65 PCGS. An example certified prior to the 2000 Bass sales.
MS64 PCGS. The present example from the Bass Collection.
MS64 PCGS. A second MS64 PCGS example that was certified after the 2000 Bass sales.
MS64 NGC. An example from the S.S. Republic treasure that we offered in our Pittsburgh Signature sale (10/2011), lot 5107.
MS64 NGC. An example that we offered in our Central States sale (4/2014), lot 5803.
MS64 NGC. Another example from the S.S. Republic treasure.
MS64 NGC. Three other examples, all certified by NGC prior to October 2011. It is unknown if any of those are duplications of other examples listed herein.

CAC has approved one MS64 and one MS65, each with a green sticker, but it is unknown which of the above they have approved. This example was probably considered the finest known at the time Mr. Bass was forming his amazing gold coin collection. The strike is exquisite, and the surfaces are virtually flawless with brilliant and satiny yellow luster and delicate rose overtones. Called a "visual treat" in the Bass catalog, and we concur.
Ex: Abner Kreisberg (11/1972), lot 1300; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (Part III, Bowers and Merena, 5/2000), lot 801, unsold and reoffered in Part IV (Bowers and Merena, 11/2000), lot 829.
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