@Eldorado9 said: @jfriedm56 Those two beauties are fantastic, and the grades are hilarious! They look more like a couple of 66's!
Thanks, but realistically they may have a good chance to green bean or be bumped up a grade, but I like them in the older holders and would not regrade. Zack.
A new day and a new favorite. I find it interesting that my 1803/2 and 1805 appear to be the same date. I even caught a friend making that mix up recently.
.
OK, here is why this one is a favorite (with apologies to those who have read this before.)
Based upon the similarity of auction descriptions and identification of its owners, including in particular a Dr. C.W. Green, the coin’s history is traced through three separate time periods to the present. It was initially identified in the 1870 Longacre Estate Auction as Lot 178 with a description as being a proof and one of the first minted. Specifically the auction description stated, “from the first dies used for the double eagle.” From an original auction catalogue in the possession of prominent coin dealer Rick Snow it was learned that the purchaser was Edward Cogan, a noted coin auctioneer and dealer at the time.
Numismatic legend and author Walter Breen wrote in his “Breen’s Encyclopedia of US and Colonial Proofs” that he was aware of a Dr. Green’s ownership of a purported proof $20 1850 double eagle.
In 1949 noted numismatist Max Mehl, and at the time the most prominent coin dealer in the United States, provided an auction description for an 1850 $20 double eagle that was both attributed to prior ownership by Dr. Green, and also of proof appearance. Identified as Lot 719 Max Mehl wrote in his auction description describing the coin, “The most beautiful specimen of this date $20.00 gold piece I have ever seen or that I can find record of. This coin was purchased by Dr. Green as a proof ….. The obverse is brilliant and equal to a brilliant proof. I classify it as a brilliant semi-proof, almost equal to a brilliant proof.”
Numismatic author and researcher, the late Karl Moulton, concluded that the subject 1850 $20 double eagle with its matching and similar auction descriptions and Dr. C.W. Green provenance was one and the same as that sold in the initial 1870 Longacre Estate Auction.
Although Breen in his Proof encyclopedia suggested there may have been up to three such specimens, the only other that is presently known is a proof $20 double eagle piece located in a Paris museum. Through U.S. Mint records that coin appears most certainly to not have been minted from the original dies at the time of the first minting of U.S. $20 gold pieces for circulation. Contemporary accounts confirm that by April of 1850 $20 double eagles were in circulation and there is a written reference to the first double eagles having been struck on March 12, 1850. This leads to confirmation that the Paris museum’s proof specimen which evidently came from an October 1850 minting of a “Set of Gold Master Coins” made initially for the U.S. Committee on the Library was not from the original dies. This leaves the subject 1850 $20 double eagle in the author’s possession as the only one of similar appearance that can be so attributed.
The above described similarity of appearance in successive auctions coupled with the identified ownership provenance gives credence to the subject coin having been the first 1850 $20 double eagle gold piece minted in the United States.
And of hopefully added interest - this is the 1850 Proof $20 Double Eagle referenced above that is in the Paris Museum:
Comments
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Two favorites - US and World.



https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
Some tasty 1911s
China Qing Dynasty Emperor Shi Zu (1638 - 1661) gold good luck amulet
10 good luck animals for the Royal family.
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
I really like the die cracks on this one.

.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
Fantastic coins all...
jom
This one’s my still my current favorite, for the time being 🌞

Mr_Spud
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
Whew, y’all brought out the big guns for this historic rise in out favorite super-precious metal!
USAF veteran 1984-2005
I like my Carson city gold coin!!

I can't delete this, sorry!
I can't delete this, sorry!
Large, heavy and beautiful 20’s!



Dave
@JerseyB Nice. Those 1883 $10's are a rare Lib. Very low pops for that year.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
@jfriedm56 Those two beauties are fantastic, and the grades are hilarious! They look more like a couple of 66's!
Couple Turkish brockages sourced when gold was cheap as was 2 day Turkey to USA 2 day delivery:
Thanks, but realistically they may have a good chance to green bean or be bumped up a grade, but I like them in the older holders and would not regrade. Zack.
A new day and a new favorite. I find it interesting that my 1803/2 and 1805 appear to be the same date. I even caught a friend making that mix up recently.

.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
My US collection is all silver, so I will post a world coin.
This one-sided proof from the Bass sale

Empty Nest Collection
My favorite? Just one?
I guess this one… And of course, it’s the least affected by the gold price…
My YouTube Channel
This one’s up there (I need a better image of it someday):
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
OK, here is why this one is a favorite (with apologies to those who have read this before.)
Based upon the similarity of auction descriptions and identification of its owners, including in particular a Dr. C.W. Green, the coin’s history is traced through three separate time periods to the present. It was initially identified in the 1870 Longacre Estate Auction as Lot 178 with a description as being a proof and one of the first minted. Specifically the auction description stated, “from the first dies used for the double eagle.” From an original auction catalogue in the possession of prominent coin dealer Rick Snow it was learned that the purchaser was Edward Cogan, a noted coin auctioneer and dealer at the time.
Numismatic legend and author Walter Breen wrote in his “Breen’s Encyclopedia of US and Colonial Proofs” that he was aware of a Dr. Green’s ownership of a purported proof $20 1850 double eagle.
In 1949 noted numismatist Max Mehl, and at the time the most prominent coin dealer in the United States, provided an auction description for an 1850 $20 double eagle that was both attributed to prior ownership by Dr. Green, and also of proof appearance. Identified as Lot 719 Max Mehl wrote in his auction description describing the coin, “The most beautiful specimen of this date $20.00 gold piece I have ever seen or that I can find record of. This coin was purchased by Dr. Green as a proof ….. The obverse is brilliant and equal to a brilliant proof. I classify it as a brilliant semi-proof, almost equal to a brilliant proof.”
Numismatic author and researcher, the late Karl Moulton, concluded that the subject 1850 $20 double eagle with its matching and similar auction descriptions and Dr. C.W. Green provenance was one and the same as that sold in the initial 1870 Longacre Estate Auction.
Although Breen in his Proof encyclopedia suggested there may have been up to three such specimens, the only other that is presently known is a proof $20 double eagle piece located in a Paris museum. Through U.S. Mint records that coin appears most certainly to not have been minted from the original dies at the time of the first minting of U.S. $20 gold pieces for circulation. Contemporary accounts confirm that by April of 1850 $20 double eagles were in circulation and there is a written reference to the first double eagles having been struck on March 12, 1850. This leads to confirmation that the Paris museum’s proof specimen which evidently came from an October 1850 minting of a “Set of Gold Master Coins” made initially for the U.S. Committee on the Library was not from the original dies. This leaves the subject 1850 $20 double eagle in the author’s possession as the only one of similar appearance that can be so attributed.
The above described similarity of appearance in successive auctions coupled with the identified ownership provenance gives credence to the subject coin having been the first 1850 $20 double eagle gold piece minted in the United States.
And of hopefully added interest - this is the 1850 Proof $20 Double Eagle referenced above that is in the Paris Museum:
U.S. Type Set
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan