PCGS MS65+
PCGS MS64
- PCGS #:
- 9172
- Designer:
- Augustus Saint Gaudens
- Edge:
- Lettered
- Diameter:
- 34.00 millimeters
- Weight:
- 33.40 grams
- Mintage:
- 528,500
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 90% Gold, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $1,495,000 • MS63 • 08-16-2006 • Bowers & Merena
Major Varieties
- 1921 $20
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 145 |
| 60 or Better | 65 |
| 65 or Better | 4 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-7.5 |
| 60 or Better | R-8.3 |
| 65 or Better | R-9.8 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 6 / 49 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 3 / 49 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 49 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 6 / 54 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 3 / 54 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 54 |
Condition Census What Is This?
#1 PCGS MS66
Dr. Thomas Louis Comparette; George Seymour Godard; possibly Senator Hall's widow, before Godard purchased his collection; Godard Collection; "Auction '82," Stack's, August 1982, Lot 447 - $32,000; Superior, January 1984, Lot 1875 - $57,500; "The Dr. & Mrs. Steven Duckor Collection," Heritage January 2012, Lot 4630 - $747,500. Scattered coppery-orange toning spots throughout. |
|
#1 PCGS MS66
Possibly Ex: Thomas Comparette to George Godard to Senator Hall; Stack's March 1982, Lot 1471 - $41,000; Crawford Collection. As PCGS MS66 #05651168. "The Phillip H. Morse Collection," Heritage, November 2005, Lot 6644 - $1,092,500. |
|
#3 PCGS MS65+
Dr. Thomas Louis Comparette; George Seymour Godard; Senator Hall; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Bowers & Ruddy, October 1982, Lot 1052; Dr. Stephen Duckor; Jay Parrino, 1990. As PCGS MS65. "The Phillip H. Morse Collection," Heritage November 2005, Lot 6645 - $805,000; Simpson Collection. |
|
#4 PCGS MS65
Belden Roach Collection; B. Max Mehl, February 1944, Lot 179; possibly "The World's Greatest Collection," Numismatic Gallery, January 1946, Lot 923; possibly "The Dr. Charles W. Green Collection," B. Max Mehl, April 1949, Lot 791; possibly "The Jerome Kern Collection," B. Max Mehl, May 1950, Lot 639; Heritage Auctions October 1994, Lot 7207. As PCGS MS65 #11617047. "The Dr. Robert Hesselgesser Collection," Goldbergs, September 2007, Lot 3524 - $1,012,000. As PCGS MS65 #05875327. Heritage Auctions August 3, 2012, Lot 5453 - $587,500. |
|
#5 PCGS MS64
As PCGS MS64 #08648060. "The Ralph P. Muller Collection," Heritage Auctions Janaury 7, 2010, Lot 2315 - $322,000; "A & A Saints Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). As PCGS MS64 #30433194. Heritage Auctions, January 9, 2020, Lot 4565 - $210,000. "The Bella Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). |
#5 PCGS MS64
|
| #5 PCGS MS64 |
#8 PCGS MS63+
Goldbergs, February 2007, Lot 2728 - $218,500; Stack's/Bowers, August 2014, Lot 13276 - Passed; Fox Collection (PCGS Set Registry) |
#8 PCGS MS63+
|
#8 PCGS MS63+
As PCGS MS63 #21895703. Goldbergs, February 2007, Lot 2728 – $218,500; Stack’s Bowers, August 2017, Lot 13276 – Passed. As PCGS MS63+ #37543091. “The Rollo Fox Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 2020, Lot 4031 – $174,000. “The Noel Thomas Patton Collection,” Heritage Auctions, May 3, 2023, Lot 3339 – $288,000. |
Along with the 1920-S, which is just a bit less rare, the 1921 is the premier condition rarity of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series. More than half of the total popuation is in circulated condition, and the majority of the Mint State pieces grade only MS-60. There are some around that grade MS-61 or MS-62, but in MS-63 or higher grade this issue is all but impossible to obtain. I would estimate that only eight to 10 exist in MS-63 and only a very few exist that could reasonably be graded MS-64 or better. On my rarity scale, I could probably have rated the 1921 as R-10 (Impossible) for both MS-64 and MS-65 and not received much contradiction. Three specimens stand out above the rest (of those that I have seen) by a considerable margin. Two specimens from the George Goddard Collection were sold by Stack's in 1982. Both are true gems and are virtually identical in overall quality and appearance. One is now owned by Dr. William Crawford, the other by a prominent Eastern collector. The third super 1921 is the Eliasberg example, which is almost identical to the Goddard pieces in overall appearance but has perhaps a few more tiny marks. It grades at least MS-64 and many would grade it full gem. All three coins were undoubtedly obtained directly from the Mint in the year of issue.
The 1921 is generally sharply struck with frosty surfaces and lustre that is only average at best for the series, but a very few examples have somewhat satiny surfaces and very good lustre. (The three top quality examples mentioned above all have exceptional lustre, however, and so it is entirely possible that the somewhat lacklustre appearance of most specimens is due to their low condition and not a result of how they were made.) Color is typically very good, a light to medium, sometimes even rich, orange and greenish gold. Some specimens have tiny hairline die breaks running through the letters in LIBERTY.