Recent Purchase – 1872-S $20

BloodMan

I recently purchased an 1872-S Double Eagle from a major auction house. The coin was sold raw and described as Very Choice About Uncirculated-58 with mirror-like reflective lustre. I don’t believe this coin would receive the PL designation, but it does have reflectivity in protected areas and the central designs have a cameo appearance. I agree with the assigned grade, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it in an AU55 holder, if I were to submit it.

Two sets of images are shown below. Images from the original auction which I believe intended to highlight the PL appearance and my images in which I attempted to capture the detail.

My camera setup is a Canon 20D SLR with 50mm macro lens supported on a copy stand. For lighting, I use a pair of lamps with 30W fluorescent bulbs (5000k daylight color temperature). These are some of my better images.

Any comments on the coin or the images are welcome. Overall, I am happy with the purchase.

STONE

I like it, congrats on knabbing a nice coin.

I think the AU-55 is the correct grade; maybe AU-53. Strike weakness and obvious wear are good enough reasons for me to pick out problems.
I would also have to see this coin in hand to denote the PL designation because I can't see one in either image sets.

I do like your images a lot better than the Auction House's images.

DorkGirl

Nice coin and pics!

AlixTCat

The first images don't look like a real coin. They look like an illustration or cartoon.
The second set of images I like. They look like a real coin and show it very well.

Nice coin you have there.

Jonthan

PerryHall

Nice looking coin. Are you going to get it slabbed?

BloodMan

Thanks for the comments. I agree that the color on the first set of images looks odd (almost the color of a banana peel!).

I considered submitting it to NGC for the possibility of receiving the PL designation. However, based on my experience, Type 2’s double eagles rarely receive the designation, in fact only 2 1872-S $20’s have been graded PL. As an example, the coin below is moderately PL in hand even considering the exaggerated chatter in the reflective obverse fields, but it didn’t receive the designation. NCG has not graded any 1870-S $20’s as PL.

I will probably send it in to PCGS and post the grade once I get it back.

fc

first off i like the coin. heck i like any large gold coins!

but calling that Very Choice About Uncirculated-58 is a stretch.
the auction house should be ashamed in my opinion. AU 53 sounds
about right. just my honest opinion. there could be a soft strike year
or something that i do not know about...

it strikes me as AU53.

Broadstruck

These $20 Lib's are growing one me... been looking at a 65-s Type 2 for a while and really feel to me that of the 3 types this is my favorite design revision.

clackamas

For the Money those older $20 Libs are a bargain IMO.

Broadstruck

<< <i>For the Money those older $20 Libs are a bargain IMO. >>



I liked em better when Gold was a few hundred and ounce less!

DeusExMachina

Bloodman, great pickup and nice photographs. PL coins in the VF-AU grade range can be a bear to photograph.

robkool

AU55... But the PL designation might be tough for that grade.
Nice piece tho... Good luck...

skeeterhawk

Check the pop numbers and overall survival figures and you will find that the Type #2 20 are the most rare of all the $20 series. Compare numbers and I think you will agree that there are several sleepers within the Type #2 $20 date run.......in my mind that equals opportunity..........1868 in AU50+......1870 AU50+.....1871 AU50+..........1873 Cl3 in AU58+.....all of these have lower pops and are very difficult to find in today's market

By the way I think your coin is an AU50 or AU53............

oreville

I agree with the others. A possible AU-53 but as low as a AU-50.