Introduction The Double Eagle is Born Type I 1850-1866 Type II 1866-1876 Type III 1877-1907 Saint-Gaudens 1907-1933 Double Eagles as Collectibles The $20 S Mints Recommendations

The $20 S Mints 1858-S $20.00 NGC AU 53 S-Mint Type One twenties fall into two categories: extremely common or truly scarce. This is attributed to the numerous shipwrecks that contained San Francisco double eagles. The 1858-S is one of the rarer issues, since it was minted too late for the SS Central America and too early to have been put on the SS Brother Jonathan. Examples in VF and EF are plentiful, but the 58-S becomes quite scarce in AU. Since only 15-18 true Uncirculated specimens are known, a choice AU53 such as this is an excellent value. 1860-S NGC AU 50 Like the 1858-S, the 1860-S is not one of the “shipwreck” dates in the Type One double eagle series. Beyond AU 50, few example of this rare issue are known. In addition, the 1860-S frequently comes heavily abraded; luckily this specimen survived without being battered in circulation. With only 30-40 Mint State pieces known, a respectable AU such as this is the finest most collectors can afford. 1885-S NGC MS 62 Like many Type Three twenties, the 1885-S is fairly plentiful in lower Mint State grades, but is extremely scarce in MS 63 and above. Hundreds of coins have been graded MS 62 by PCGS and NGC, but there are only 150-175 trues MS 63s known. Since the price more than doubles from MS 62 to MS 63, this grade is best suited for collectors and investors. Furthermore, this difference in price allows MS 62 pieces to grow in value without challenging the MS 63’s levels. 1895-S NGC MS 64 The 1895-S is one of the "semi-keys" in the Type Three series. It is most often seen in low Mint State grades; rarely is an MS 64 specimen offered. More importantly, this date is practically non-existent in MS 65, which makes a choice MS 64 like this piece an extremely desirable coin. Like the 1885-S in this offering, a 95-S in 64 has ample room to grow in price, given how costly a Gem can be. 1898-S PCGS MS 63 All too often, the 1898-S is regarded as a common date in Uncirculated. Its mintage figure is misleading; 2.5 million specimens were struck, both many pieces are melted. Research has shows that branch mint gold, overall, has a lower survival rate. Furthermore, the 98-S often comes nicked and abraded, so finding a coin better than MS 63 can prove difficult and costly. Given how underrated this date is, the present coin would be a good choice for the shrewd collector. 1901-S PCGS MS 63 At the turn of the century, San Francisco double eagle production was at its peak. However, many of the coins never entered circulation, since output far exceeded demand for the coins. An interesting study in contrast is the 1901-S twenty versus the 1901-P. Only 111,430 pieces were struck in Philadelphia, yet nearly 1.6 million coins came off the dies in San Francisco. Yet, the 1901-S is much rarer! Not only is this example a highly attractive coin, but it would also make a good conversation piece with fellow numismatists. 1909-S PCGS MS 63 San Francisco minted over 2.7 million pieces in 1909, though most of these coins were held at the mint and were never released. This was typical of the San Francisco mint, which often produced too many coins in a given year and destroyed them at a later point. The 1915-S, for example, has a mintage of 567,000 but is not as scarce as the 1909-S. Even so, the market’s perceives this date as being common, even though it is actually a prime rarity in high Mint State grades. 1915-S NGC MS 65 The 1915-S could be considered one of the "generic" San Francisco Saints. Along with the 1914-S and 1916-S, it is one of the most available dates. It is perfect for type collectors who wish to own a high-grade Saint Gaudens double eagle other than the stereotyped 1924-P, 1927-P or 1928-P. Besides, the 1915-S is tens of times rarer than the 1924-P, but only trades for twice as much in MS 65. This piece meets every expectation of a Gem specimen; superb luster, extremely clean surfaces, and an exceptional “flash.” 1916-S PCGS MS 65 The 1916-S is in the same league as the 14-S and 15-S: plentiful in 63, less so in 64, and rather scarce in 65. However, the 16-S becomes a prime rarity in MS 66. While MS 65s appear on the market regularly, many months could pass before an MS 66 is offered for sale—and very few could match the quality of this specimen. Lustrous and immaculately preserved, it epitomizes the beauty of the Saint Gaudens design. 1922-S NGC MS 64 Long overshadowed by other dates in the series, the 1922-S is actually an extremely difficult coin to locate. While issues like the 1924-D and 1925-S receive more publicity, the 1922-S is an extremely rare coin in MS 64 and above. One Saint Gaudens collector, who had the fortune of owning a 26-D and 30-S, claimed that finding a decent quality 1922-S was a tremendous challenge. 1925-S NGC MS 61 The 1925-S is an elite member of the “late-date” Saints, a series of issues known for their rarity. This present specimen represents an excellent opportunity to own a famous date, but without spending an inordinate amount of money. Most of the late-date Saints were put aside from circulation and grade between MS 63 and MS 65 by today’s standards. Coins such as those trade for well into five figures. However, an MS 61 such as this remains affordable and within the average collector’s reach. 1927-S NGC MS 62 The 1927-S is one of the scarcest Saint Gaudens double eagles, superseded in rarity only by dates like the 27-D, 30-S and 32-P. Despite its high mintage of 3.1 million, only a few bags were saved from the melting pot. That is, perhaps 150-200 are known today. Bright and lustrous, this coin is an attractive representative of this extremely scarce date. Many pieces graded MS 63 could not compete with this coin’s overall eye appeal. Next:  Recommendations