New Photos: 1897-S $20 Gold Liberty (Semi-Prooflike)
Stuart
Posts: 9,793 ✭✭✭✭✭
I’m pleased to share this attractive Semi-Prooflike 1897-S $20 Gold Liberty acquired today at the TNA Coin Show in Conroe, Texas (North side of Houston).
I’ve been inactive regarding collecting for a while, and have decided to consolidate a portion of my collection to acquire some higher quality coins.
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
14
Comments
Nice! I have a semi-PL 1904 and the mirrored fields are flashy in-hand. I bet yours really pops.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I'm sure it's a nice coin but this would bother me.
Thanks @P0cketChange! — It is flashy in hand, and IMO the reflectivity appears really close to PL.
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
And that might be why it’s in a 63 holder. Grading PL and proof coins from a picture is very difficult.
It appear to line up with the one on the neck, another 20$ looks like it came down in the bag flush on its rim. That’s DEs for you. There is no sexier coin than a flashy 20$
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
@Skier07 — I completely agree with your following very astute observation.
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
Very flashy, enjoyable to view!
Congrats on your newp, she does look very flashy.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Nice flashy coin, definitely has reflective surfaces. Good time to buy really nice $20 libs with only a small premium to price of gold. Bonus that the purchase was made just before gold jumps +3% on the Monday following the show.
while the premium is small the price is still high, I used to buy graded (NGC) UNC PLs twentys for $1000 back in the mid 00s. Sold them way too early to focus on Trade dollars, though I was a genius moving them for 1500-1700
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
@Crypto - Thanks for your post. It’s great to reconnect with you! 😎
I agree that the current Gold price over $3K/oz makes these coins pricey.
That’s why I’m using some of my Gold Bullion & Common Date Gold as Trading Material as a an upgrade strategy to take advantage of today’s low premiums, as well as to consolidate some of my collection into better quality material.
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
June 4 Update...
I’m pleased to share this attractive Semi-Prooflike 1897-S $20 Gold Liberty acquired May 31, 2025 at the TNA Coin Show in Conroe, Texas (North side of Houston).
IMO the surface Reflectivity seems very close to qualifying for the Prooflike designation.
I’ve been inactive regarding collecting for a while, and have decided to consolidate a portion of my collection to acquire some higher quality coins.
I was able to make an advantageous trade for this coin, leveraging some raw gold coins that were purchased about a quarter of a century ago when the gold price was much lower.
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
I tend to agree however for a 63, it looks pretty decent to me, the scan might be magnifying it greatly..
Here are some preliminary iPad photos taken in diffuse sunlight to better demonstrate the reflective fields that this coin exhibits, versus the original TrueView photos posted.
I’ll attempt to take some better quality photos to update this thread in the future.
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
WOW worlds of difference in those photos... I like this coin a lot... Nice hunk of gold
pl in gold makes my eyes glow
@Relaxn @MsMorrisine and @MarcMoish - Thanks for your posts about my new $20 Liberty! 😎👍
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"