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

Double Eagles as Collectibles Coins are rewarding collectibles. This became particularly evident in recent years, when several collections from the 1940s and 1950s were placed on the auction block. The first collection, assembled by Baltimore banker Louis Eliasberg, cost approximately $175,000 to complete in the 1940s. His coins were sold in three auctions, one in 1982, a second in 1996, and the final portion in 1997. Incredibly, the collection realized nearly $45 million, an incredible return on his original investment. An even more dramatic example is the John Jay Pittman collection. Pittman was a budget-minded collector who could not buy the famous rarities Eliasberg could afford. Even so, the results were even more spectacular. Many of the coins Pittman bought for under a hundred dollars were hammered down for tens of thousands in 1997 and 1998. Some of his most prized possessions, which realized hundreds of thousands at auction, were purchased in the 1950s for just a few hundred dollars. Had Mr. Eliasberg and Mr. Pittman invested their money in IBM or Xerox, they would not have made nearly as much. Double eagles offer the collector numerous advantages, including the following: ~ With nearly a full ounce of real gold, double eagles contain real tangible value ~ Double eagles can be easily and discretely stored ~ Owning double eagles does not require the involvement of a broker ~ Certified double eagles can be liquidated for cash almost instantly Most importantly, however, is the buying opportunity that exists today. Currently, many analysts are bracing for an economic downturn, based on slowing growth rates, and significantly reduced corporate earnings. This, many believe, may lead to inflation not too far into the distance. In times of inflation, investors have traditionally looked to precious metals as a hedge. In the late 1970s, when America experienced some of the worst inflation in recent times, the price of gold reached a lofty $800 per ounce. Today, it is hovering below $300. With many twenty dollar pieces commanding a minimal premium over melt value, double eagle are an exceptionally wise purchase at current levels. The second factor to consider is the market for collectable United States coins. In the past five to six years, an incredible number of rare U.S. gold have entered the market, mostly from major collections that were broken up. With a span of only four years, the monumental Pittman, Trompeter and Bass collections were all released onto the market. This has created a temporary oversupply of rare United States double eagles, but many of these coins are being quietly absorbed by the market. Scarce proof twenties, for example, were readily available only a year ago. Today, they have virtually disappeared from the numismatic scene. For many rare date double eagles, this same phenomenon may take place very shortly. The Pittman, Trompeter and Bass holdings were among the last truly enormous collections intact; very few groupings of that magnitude still exist. It is highly unlikely that such an abundance of rare date gold will ever appear on the market again. Next:  The $20 S Mints