Heritage World Coin Auctions
FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles
1931-D $20 MS63 PCGS. The Denver Mint struck a modest total of 106,500 Saint-Gaudens double eagles in 1931, all delivered in March and April of that year. Although it was impossible to predict the future of U.S. gold coinage at the time, these were the last gold coins ever produced at the Denver facility. In his recent study of Mint and Treasury records, Roger W. Burdette learned no more than 441 1931-D double eagles were ever available for distribution to private citizens, and the number actually paid out was probably even smaller. No coins were shipped to Federal Reserve Banks for distribution and none were used in payments for overseas trade, although a few coins may have been sent to European destinations by private individuals as a hedge against rising gold prices. The vast majority of this final Denver mintage was held in government vaults until 1935, when the coins were melted into gold bars and stored at the Fort Knox Bullion Repository. Probably no more than 125 examples survive in all grades today.
The 1931-D was extremely difficult to locate when collectors first became interested in collecting large denomination gold coins in this country, in the late 1930s. In the J.F. Bell Collection (Stack's, 12/1944), the cataloger of the 1931-D in that sale noted, "We doubt if more than 6 pieces are known." Of course, the supply of examples increased gradually over the years, as pieces surfaced from tightly held collections, but the 1931-D was still considered the second-rarest issue of the famous "Late Date" Saints (1929, 1930-S, 1931, 1931-D, and 1932) until about 1984. At that time, a small hoard of 15-20 examples came on the market from an uncertain source, making the 1931-D slightly more available than the 1931 and 1932 issues. However, most of the hoard coins graded MS62-MS64, so the 1931-D remains very rare in higher Mint State grades.
The present coin is an attractive Select specimen with well-detailed design elements and vibrant mint luster on both sides. Just a touch of the usual softness is evident on the torch hand and Capitol, but the pleasing orange-gold surfaces show only scattered, minor contact marks and eye appeal is outstanding. Population: 21 in 63 (1 in 63+), 57 finer (10/16).
From The Renz Family Collection of $20 Gold Coins.
1931-D $20 MS63 PCGS. The Denver Mint struck a modest total of 106,500 Saint-Gaudens double eagles in 1931, all delivered in March and April of that year. Although it was impossible to predict the future of U.S. gold coinage at the time, these were the last gold coins ever produced at the Denver facility. In his recent study of Mint and Treasury records, Roger W. Burdette learned no more than 441 1931-D double eagles were ever available for distribution to private citizens, and the number actually paid out was probably even smaller. No coins were shipped to Federal Reserve Banks for distribution and none were used in payments for overseas trade, although a few coins may have been sent to European destinations by private individuals as a hedge against rising gold prices. The vast majority of this final Denver mintage was held in government vaults until 1935, when the coins were melted into gold bars and stored at the Fort Knox Bullion Repository. Probably no more than 125 examples survive in all grades today.
The 1931-D was extremely difficult to locate when collectors first became interested in collecting large denomination gold coins in this country, in the late 1930s. In the J.F. Bell Collection (Stack's, 12/1944), the cataloger of the 1931-D in that sale noted, "We doubt if more than 6 pieces are known." Of course, the supply of examples increased gradually over the years, as pieces surfaced from tightly held collections, but the 1931-D was still considered the second-rarest issue of the famous "Late Date" Saints (1929, 1930-S, 1931, 1931-D, and 1932) until about 1984. At that time, a small hoard of 15-20 examples came on the market from an uncertain source, making the 1931-D slightly more available than the 1931 and 1932 issues. However, most of the hoard coins graded MS62-MS64, so the 1931-D remains very rare in higher Mint State grades.
The present coin is an attractive Select specimen with well-detailed design elements and vibrant mint luster on both sides. Just a touch of the usual softness is evident on the torch hand and Capitol, but the pleasing orange-gold surfaces show only scattered, minor contact marks and eye appeal is outstanding. Population: 21 in 63 (1 in 63+), 57 finer (10/16).
From The Renz Family Collection of $20 Gold Coins.