Would you have the foresight? Beauty In The Beast

lonemountaincoin

**Imagine stumbling on a buried rusty can of gold double eagles full of dirt and debris. Would you have the wisdom and foresight to not ruin the batch by wiping the dirt off and trying to get a closeup peek at each of the coins yourself and without any help or professional conservation?

Example image, not the same coin.

That's precisely what happened with the Saddle Ridge hoard of over 1400 coins, and more specifically this coin. While this one could have easily turned into an unc-details melt piece, instead was discovered as the finest known example discovered to-date. There were about a dozen other coins that reached finest known status as well from this hoard.

**Plate Coin: Saddle Ridge 1894-S $20 PCGS MS65+ CAC **

The level of originality in 1894-s is outstanding; even more remarkable to consider that it was fully encased in dirt, filth, and grime for so long. Mother nature's own slab.

Despite all odds, it was crowned plate coin status for very good reason, and it's a standout next to the sibling MS65+ example in the same year. The 1894-S boasts a natural and youthful tone as if it was made last week and hasn't aged a bit. Somehow this Liberty discovered the secret to anti-aging.

A few weeks ago I got it stickered with CAC and felt it was a LOCK at the time, although as we all know, nothing is ever guaranteed. Thankfully the Saints were smiling on Saddle Ridge that day, and the green crown was awarded.

You never know what beauty might be unearthed and restored beneath a beast.

**

lermish

That's a very attractive example, particularly given the rough life it lived. I love the Saddle Ridge story. And, given the condition the coins were in, DMC did an amazing job preserving them.

That being said, along with most of the SSCA coins, most of the SR coins look a bit too processed for my taste (although this one still has a pretty nice skin). I guess I'm hooked on Fairmont 😅

Coinscratch

Instead of a rusty can I like to imagine the top of a leather bag at the bottom of the hole. But then I struggle deciding if the bag tears as I try to remove it revealing the sunlight or if it pulls loose easily and I struggle carrying the weight scurrying back to the truck leaving my metal detector and in complete awe. then the alarm goes off.

Meltdown

Those are stunning! One of these days I'd love to own one.

seatedlib3991

@lonemountaincoin . Thanks for posting that. I have read about that hoard discovery but this is the first time i have seen a picture of a coin in the raw. James

Desert Moon

Congrats on the bean! Right now my direct experience is that CAC is even tougher than it was in prior years, so to get a bean on anything is a true testament to its quality. This is simply a stunning and gorgeous coin and we have to thank the finders for not messing with them.

Best, DM

Coinscratch

@Desert Moon said:
Congrats on the bean! Right now my direct experience is that CAC is even tougher than it was in prior years, so to get a bean on anything is a true testament to its quality. This is simply a stunning and gorgeous coin and we have to thank the finders for not messing with them.

Best, DM

And my current experience with PCGS is also tougher than in prior years which in theory should already make the bean tougher. At the very least this is decreasing values across the board for the B & C coins. Even Kennedys which can't bean in the first place the newly graded 67s look like 68s. And the older 67s look like 66s. It's crazy I tell ya!

Davidk7

Surprised it wasn't sent to CAC previously! Really nice and PQ.