$2.5 1926 Gold Sesquicentennial of American Independence Quarter Eagle, PCGS MS64

$2.5 1926 Gold Sesquicentennial of American Independence Quarter Eagle, PCGS MS65.

$20 1851-O Gold Double Eagle Liberty, NGC AU58 #3472260-001.  For the collector, obtaining these early Type I double eagles with high eye appeal is a considerable challenge. Most come with heavy bagmarks from the original shipping or jostling about with others while galavanting across America on horseback or carriage. Smooth riding transportation was not known, as railroads were quite limited during this period. Shipping by sea or river brought its own hazards. Thus, when a scarce date like this 1851-O appears in near mint condition without heavy marks it draws our attention. Liberty's cheek and neck are smooth and free of heavy digs or nicks. The reverse is pleasing too with minimal surface marks and the bold New Orleans "O" placed below the eagle's tail. While a few dozen are known in lower Mint State grades, finding these with eye appeal is as tough as those with some degree of circulation.

$20 1851-O Gold Double Eagle Liberty, NGC AU58 #584349-006.  Southern gold type collectors long have flocked to the 1851-O to get the New Orleans twenty "on the cheap." Enthusiasts realize, however, that even the most accessible such coin comes at a price above a certain grade level. This near-Mint representative is noteworthy, more so than the resubmission-heavy NGC Census Report listing of 57 coins in AU58 condition. The green-gold surfaces show considerable remnants of prooflikeness around the devices and only a few lines of reed marks attract any negative attention.
 

$20 1852-O Gold Double Eagle Liberty, NGC AU58 #2031011-006.   Despite a modest original mintage of 190,000 pieces, the 1852-O is the most common O-mint double eagle of the 1850-1852 era in high grade, making it a popular choice of mintmark type collectors. Probably more than 1,000 examples of this date still survive in all grades, but the 1852-O does become very scarce at the near-Mint level.
The present coin is a satin-finished example whose lightly rubbed surfaces reveal flashes of original luster at most angles. The devices are sharply impressed, and the number of abrasions is consistent with the assigned grade. A bright, yellow-gold representative. One diagonal scratch is seen across Liberty's hair and neck.

$20 1852-O Gold Double Eagle Liberty, NGC AU58 1576665-004.

$20 1853-O Gold Double Eagle Liberty, NGC AU Details.

Experts believe there are just around 200 existing specimens of the New Orleans minted twenty in all grades even though the mintage was 30,000 circulation strikes. This figure exceeds the previous year's total by about 28,000 but by no means should the collector believe the 1857 is readily available! Most of the New Orleans minted Double Eagles were produced using gold procured locally, which was limited, and resulted in low mintages. Thus, the O-mint Twenties are highly desirable among collectors and dealers alike. Typical proof-like luster remains visible on about 45% of the fields, with fewer abrasions normally associated with the XF45 grade. Truly an above-average specimen that is CAC stickered as well!

$20 1857-S Double Gold Eagle Liberty SSCA Bold S, PCGS MS65. The story of this coin begins in 1848 with the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill on the American River in California and the beginning of the California Gold Rush. San Francisco became the hub of activity for the gold mining community, including the shipping from her port to the Eastern seaboard with newly minted coins from the San Francisco Mint. On September 3, 1857, The S.S. Central America left Colon, Panama bound for New York, New York with 477 passengers, 101 crew 30,000 pounds of California gold in her hold. Caught in a category 2 hurricane off of the Carolina coast on September 09, 1857, the S.S. Central America foundered with most of her passengers and all of her gold. Called the “Ship of Gold”, the S.S. Central America’s sinking is contributed with the start of the financial panic of 1857. Our coin is presented with the "pinch of gold" certified coin, as well as ,the book and presentation box originally offered when this coin was presented to the market.

$20 1861-O Gold Double Eagle Liberty, NGC AU53

$20 1873 Gold Double Eagle Liberty Type 2, NGC AU55. 

$20 1879-O Gold Double Eagle Liberty, PCGS XF40. In 1879 the New Orleans Mint finally reopened for the first time since the hostilities of the Civil War closed it in 1861. For its second-act performance, the facility would strike silver dollars -- a large number, more than 2.8 million coins -- eagles, only 1,500 pieces, and double eagles, a meager 2,325 examples. The 1879-O double eagle would turn out to be the final O-mint of the Liberty Head twenty series, although New Orleans would strike other eagle issues later on, and its dying gasp would be the anachronistic 1909-O Indian Head five dollar issue.

The 1879-O double eagle is especially popular as the only Type Three twenty from New Orleans. This XF40 PCGS example offers medium yellow-gold surfaces with deeper accents of amber-orange around the peripheral devices. This issue usually comes heavily abraded, and scattered marks appear on this example, consistent with the grade. The obverse shows only minor abrasions. The reverse displays a couple of mentionable scrapes at WE (TRU)ST in the motto, along with the glory of rays nearby and at the F in OF. Population: 17 in 40, 38 finer.

$20 1881-S Gold Double Eagle Liberty, PCGS AU53.

$20 1883-S Gold Double Eagle Liberty, NGC AU50

$20 1893-CC Gold Double Eagle Liberty, PCGS AU58.  The final Carson City issue has a low mintage of 18,402 pieces but is nonetheless collectible in attractive grades. This lustrous example has a trace of wear on the shoulder curl but comes very close to Mint State. No marks are remotely consequential, and the strike is crisp throughout. Toned orange-gold aside from a dash of powder-blue on the portrait.

$20 1895 Gold Double Eagle Liberty, NGC MS60.

$20 1907 Gold Double Eagle Saint Gaudens, NGC MS61.

$20 1907 Gold Double Eagle Saint Gaudens, NGC MS64.

$20 1911-D Gold Double Eagle Saint Gaudens, NGC MS64

$20 1911-D Gold Double Eagle Saint Gaudens, NGC MS64