1930-S $20 MS66 PCGS.... Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles

Welcome Sign-In | Join Now

Lot: 2129
Auction: 1114

1930-S $20 MS66 PCGS....

Track this lot.

Add to MyWantlist

View Larger Image


Sold for:	Sign-in or Join (free & quick) (includes BP) Bid Source: HA.com/Live
Ended:	Jul 30, 2008
	Printable Version of Prices Realized for this Auction

Buyer's Premium:	15% of the successful bid (minimum $9.00 per lot)
Auction Name:	*2008 July-August Baltimore, MD (ANA) US Coin Signature Auction #1114*
Description:	Heritage Numismatic Auctions offers U.S. and World coins, medals, and tokens in our Signature Auctions & Final Session Sales, held in conjunction with some of the largest numismatic conventions. These sales feature award-winning cataloging and photography. Call or e-mail one of our Consignment Directors to learn about selling through Heritage.
Auction Type:	Signature: Heritage Live: After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.) This lot is in: Signature Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live) (lots 1-3497) Internet bidding ends at 10:00PM CT the night before the floor session for this lot. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.
Item Activity:	5 Internet/mail bidders, 1,123 page views

Description

1930-S $20 MS66 PCGS. Only four times previously--all in the last five years--have we sold MS66 examples of this storied issue, all for prices well into the six-figure range. The most recent example, in our 2007 FUN Signature Coin Auction #422 (lot 3307), brought $230,000. In our 2005 December Dallas Signature Auction #398, a similarly graded MS66 PCGS piece (lot 2080) yielded $253,000. The Phillip H. Morse Collection specimen, also an MS66, garnered $207,000 in our 2005 November Signature Auction #392 (lot 6709). Finally, a piece in our 2004 August Pittsburgh, PA Signature Sale #352 (lot 7818) fetched $161,001.
Of the 74,000 pieces recorded struck for this issue, virtually all were later melted in the 1930s. Garrett and Guth provide some interesting food for thought concerning the survivors:

"The 1930-S double eagle is a significant rarity that is overshadowed by the 1927-D and speculative 1933 issues. Mercifully for collectors, most of those known are Uncirculated, and the majority are very nice, grading MS-64 or finer. Most show typical sharp strikes with beveled rims and blazing luster. Those that did survive were likely held by American coin collectors or dealers, and it is almost certain that none were shipped overseas from this Western mint."

The Ivy Press publication, The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens as Illustrated by the Phillip H. Morse Collection, also elevates the 1930-S above such other memorable late-series issues as the 1929, 1931, 1931-D, and 1932:

"The 1930-S is often mentioned in the same breath as the 1931-D, but there is little doubt today that the 1930-S is significantly scarcer than the D-mint, which also makes it the key to the late date series. The 1930-S is second only in overall rarity in the entire series of regular issues to the 1927-D (and obviously the Ultra High Relief). Probably no more than 40-45 individual coins exist today in all grades."

It is interesting that Walter Breen maintains that most 1930-S twenties surviving today came from a small European hoard, while Garrett and Guth make a point of refuting that claim. The preponderance of numismatic evidence, however, tends to side with Garrett and Guth, as most survivors are quite nice and higher-grading than the average hoard coin. As of (6/08), NGC has certified a single MS66 coin, and there are currently five examples so graded at PCGS. There are none graded finer.
Akers mentions that most examples have either a long, nearly horizontal die scratch from the obverse rim at 3 o'clock to a ray, while others have a "strange-looking" date with a raised die lump inside the 0. The former die marker is plain on the present piece.
This '30-S has a special charm and eye appeal that is seldom seen on any date and mintmark combination in the Saint-Gaudens series. In addition to the remarkably clean surfaces over each side, this piece displays a warm reddish glow in the fields, with mildly contrasting pale mint-green color toward the margins. The extraordinarily clean surfaces of this coin are fully frosted. For future pedigree purposes, one tiny horizontal contact mark is seen across the central rays in the left obverse field. This piece, of the highest order of rarity, will be certain to generate much interest on the part of all gold enthusiasts.(Registry values: N1) (#9191)

The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens: as Illustrated by the Phillip H. Morse Collection
By James L. Halperin, Mark Van Winkle, Jon Amato and Gregory J. Rohan
The Coinage of Augustus Saint-Gaudens is an issue-by-issue examination of these two artistically inspired series of gold coins. Each date and mintmark is reviewed with up-to-date information, much of which has never been previously published. The book is based on the extraordinary collection of Phillip H. Morse. When Morse's collection was sold in November 2005 it brought $19.2 million with many records broken for both rare and common coins.
Order Now! Just $75

Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions
Lot	Date	Grade	Service	Realized
Auction 422, Lot 3307	Saturday, January 6, 2007	66	PCGS	$230,000.00
Auction 398, Lot 2080	Wednesday, December 14, 2005	66	PCGS	$253,000.00
Auction 392, Lot 6709	Thursday, November 3, 2005	66	PCGS	$207,000.00
Auction 352, Lot 7818	Saturday, August 21, 2004	66	PCGS	$161,001.15
View prices realized from this item in other grades (you must be signed in)
PLEASE NOTE: All prices realized reflect the final hammer price PLUS the buyer's premium in auctions that charge a buyer's premium. Each item has a notation at the top of the listing indicating whether that lot included a buyer's premium. Example: A item that sells with a final hammer price of $100 and a 15% buyer's premium will display with a price realized of $115. All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. Please use this guide carefully and inform us of any inaccuracies.

Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions

Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Price Guide
Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Population Guide
Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Find Auction Prices for Comparable Items

Heritage Auction Archives

Prices realized from past auction lots.
Great valuation tool!


	Include Items Not Sold
	Search Titles and Description

Photographs

Sign-in or Join (free & quick) to see the full image

Go to Top

Add Item to MyWantList™
Description	Grading Service	Low Grade	High Grade

Heritage Auction Galleries

Sign-in or Join (free & quick) to see the full image

Quality Consignments Wanted

In The News

No Reserves!

Heritage Magazine

Recent Auctions

Coin Survey

2008 December Houston, TX Signature Coin Auction Realized $11,078,633
2008 September Long Beach, CA World Coin Signature Auction Realized $4,626,389