Non-collector, seemingly nice coin

ebodonicus

Hello out there.
I’ve got a 1916-s St. Gauden $20 gold coin that my dad gave me years ago.

In comparison with some of the MS66’s I’ve seen posted online - it seems to be in very nice condition (to these untrained eyes).
So far, I’ve asked an Online auctioneer for some feedback on what it could be worth and was basically shrugged off, saying it was bullion, and that I should go to a local pawn shop.
Not really interested in selling it but Ian interested in how it measures up!

I also understand that to get it officially appraised Id probably need to send it away in the mail, which I’m not so comfortable doing.

Any insight, or stabs at a rating based on your expertise would be much appreciated.
I hope the coin is something to appreciate too. I’m not a collector, but it is beautiful!

Hopefully the photos upload as intended!
Thanks in advance!

Namvet69

Welcome to CU. Our host PCGS, has info on that coin including images of graded coins. Also use the Google with keywords to find more info. Peace Roy

Crypto

Welcome

yours does appear to be genuine and uncirculated which is great. MS66 is a tough grade. It basically means that not only is it as-made but one of the better made examples in as-made condition. Condition being a combination of characteristics such as luster, surface preservation, patina and strike details.

Long story short; I place your coin at the MS63ish level (keep in mind it can be hard to grade off photos). I would recommend getting it graded as not only does that establish price but it protects the coin so you can save it for the future.

When graded it is a $2k coin retail, without certification it does trade closer to the gold coin scale that is very tied to bullion (but greater)

Nice coin

MFeld

Welcome to the forum.

The coin looks MS62, at best, to me. Among other flaws, there are large marks at the areas of Liberty’s right (to the left, when facing the coin) breast and knee, multiple abrasions in the right obverse field, a number of marks on and beneath the eagle’s left wing, as well as on the sun.

ebodonicus

Thank you both!
This is helpful information.

TomB

It looks nice, it looks mint state and it looks authentic. However, there is no way, no how that the coin grades MS66. I would guess MS62 with a shot at MS63.

matt_dac

Collectors submit coins through the mail to our hosts worth $10k+, so don’t worry about that. The only way to know for sure would be to submit for the grade.

oldabeintx

I would send it in for grading. Some day you or someone will want to sell it and with all the fakes out there...plus, I believe it's a slightly better date if it's given a 63.

BryceM

Hello and welcome. First, nice photos! The usual images we get here from new people are virtually worthless.

Second, it absolutely is a nice coin. The design is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful coins ever minted by this country, and apart from that it contains nearly an ounce of gold. It was also given to your by your father which makes it extraordinarily valuable.

Now, to a coin collector, it would be widely regarded as a really, really nice way to own a bit of bullion. A dealer wouldn't get too excited about it. There are tens of thousands of these things out there. Saints always carry a premium to melt value, but for this coin the premium wouldn't be large. With gold at around $1740 an ounce this would sell for somewhere around $2000 with the price picking up a bit at the MS63/64 range.

It's really hard to grade from photos but lots of the folks here are pretty good at it. One of the people above who guessed MS62 worked for years as a professional grader. PCGS has graded somewhere around 5000 1916-S coins. Only 192 of them have graded MS66 or higher (3.8%). I would see your coin somewhere in the MS 62/63 range, on the high end if luster is really deep and booming. That's really hard to see from a photo.

Of course you know to only handle it by the rims. Gold is soft and it's easy to destroy any numismatic value with hairline scratches (also hard to see in photos). You can submit it for grading if you want, but it will be reasonably expensive (grading fees, submission fees, shipping and insurance both ways) so there doesn't seem to be any strong financial incentive to do so. Submitting through a dealer would be the easiest way to do it if your'e interested. A simple capsule you can get at a coin shop would provide equal protection and can be had for only a few bucks.

If you send it via registered mail with insurance, it will be quite safe. People send 6-figure coins through the mail all the time.

astrorat

Welcome and nice Double Eagle!

jdimmick

Ms-61 and not worth much more than gold price at this point, but if you want it holdered, have at it

pursuitofliberty

First, welcome!

Next, as said already, those are really good pictures for a non-coin newcomer, for sure. And that's a nice looking coin. Your Dad had a good eye.

IMO @BryceM makes very good points, all the way around. Worth reading twice in your case, because everything absolutely seems to apply.

I would also agree with @MFeld and @TomB in their assessment of grade, I would be hard pressed to see this coin going beyond MS64, with a 62 to 63 most probable (based on my ability to read the pictures).

Good luck whatever you do!!

rodepetdinosaur

As stated earlier, too many marks to be anything above MS 63. Worth more than bullion, but grading expenses, shipping, etc. will eat up most of the premium above spot.

Jimnight

That's nice! 63

kaz

Welcome to the forum! Your coin looks nice and original although with the marks would probably grade around 62 as others have said. That it was a gift from your Dad makes it priceless! I would at least put it in a hard plastic holder that snaps together to protect the surfaces.
I remember back in the 70s my Dad showed me a Saint that he had bought; it was beautiful. He sold it not too long after for a small profit. What I wouldn't give now for that coin!

CoinJunkie

Looks about MS62 from the photos. I probably wouldn't bother slabbing it, but if you plan to hold onto it long term as a keepsake, it might make sense to do so for protection. Or just put it in a flip so you can handle it from time to time.

mannie gray

62 to me

johnny9434

Welcome to the forums

ricko

@ebodonicus .... Welcome aboard. That is a nice gold coin.... I agree with MS62 grade.... I support the idea of putting it in an airtite plastic container for protection - gold coins are easily scratched/damaged. As a family heirloom, having it slabbed by a TPG is not really necessary - If you were planning on selling it, I would then recommend having it graded/slabbed. Cheers, RickO

roadrunner

Almost no price spread from 61 to 63, even on this date....only about $25. And even up to 64 it's only a $50 difference from 61 to 64. The price of gold has swallowed up most of the date premiums on all but the scarcest of $20's. The cost of grading and shipping will eliminate any premium to a 61 that this coin already has. Put it in a proper coin envelope and cherish the memories. Nothing wrong with having a little bit of gold around as an emergency fund. And in no way is this a 65 or 66.

Smudge

62-63 here. Nice looking coin, but as others have said there are a lot of them out there, but only one from your dad.

kiyote

Nice coin! My dad give me a steer. 😂

kaz

@kiyote said:
Nice coin! My dad give me a steer. 😂

Well, at least you can eat the steer. OTOH, you can carry the gold in your pocket.
everything's a trade off!

Timbuk3

63, good luck !!!

ebodonicus

Thanks again all for the nice welcome and for sharing the expertise - nothing quite like asking. A question to a group of enthusiasts! Great, helpful answers.
May post some more coins soon.