Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature US Coin Sale 1252 16-17 Feb 2017
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Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles
1922-S $20 Filing Lines MS63 NGC. VP-001. This is only the second example of this unusual variety that we are aware of. The variety was first identified in January 2015 by Roger Burdette during a detailed research project for a pending Saint-Gaudens double eagle book. It took almost two years to locate a second specimen and have the variety certified by NGC. The variety shows deep parallel grooves across parts of the left obverse field next to the drapery. Deep file grooves are also boldly apparent above the letters RT of LIBERTY. The coin was made from a working die that evidently was partially defaced using a flat metal file. The file appears to have been harshly scraped across the obverse, leaving behind deep, parallel cuts in the working die. The balance of design relief is otherwise unaffected. Ninety pairs of dies were used for double eagles at San Francisco in 1922, resulting in an average of 29,500 good coins per pair. Thus, the number of pieces from a single die pair was very modest. Burdette searched through more than 300 individual coins in auctions and in-hand, but was only able to locate one example of this variety, by photograph-only. Thus, this is presently one of only two pieces known. This example is from a later die state with two die cracks evident in the word LIBERTY at the top of the obverse. The mint luster is softly frosted and the surfaces are orange-gold with a few grade-consistent abrasions. The strike is notably strong throughout. This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the few varieties in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series.
Ex: Internet Auction (Heritage, 9/2016), lot 23744.
1922-S $20 Filing Lines MS63 NGC. VP-001. This is only the second example of this unusual variety that we are aware of. The variety was first identified in January 2015 by Roger Burdette during a detailed research project for a pending Saint-Gaudens double eagle book. It took almost two years to locate a second specimen and have the variety certified by NGC. The variety shows deep parallel grooves across parts of the left obverse field next to the drapery. Deep file grooves are also boldly apparent above the letters RT of LIBERTY. The coin was made from a working die that evidently was partially defaced using a flat metal file. The file appears to have been harshly scraped across the obverse, leaving behind deep, parallel cuts in the working die. The balance of design relief is otherwise unaffected. Ninety pairs of dies were used for double eagles at San Francisco in 1922, resulting in an average of 29,500 good coins per pair. Thus, the number of pieces from a single die pair was very modest. Burdette searched through more than 300 individual coins in auctions and in-hand, but was only able to locate one example of this variety, by photograph-only. Thus, this is presently one of only two pieces known. This example is from a later die state with two die cracks evident in the word LIBERTY at the top of the obverse. The mint luster is softly frosted and the surfaces are orange-gold with a few grade-consistent abrasions. The strike is notably strong throughout. This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the few varieties in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series.
Ex: Internet Auction (Heritage, 9/2016), lot 23744.