PCGS MS66+
PCGS MS66+
- PCGS #:
- 9191
- Designer:
- Augustus Saint Gaudens
- Edge:
- Lettered
- Diameter:
- 34.00 millimeters
- Weight:
- 33.40 grams
- Mintage:
- 74,000
- Mint:
- San Francisco
- Metal:
- 90% Gold, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $372,000 • MS66+ • 08-20-2019 • Stack's Bowers
Major Varieties
- 1930-S $20
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 68 |
| 60 or Better | 61 |
| 65 or Better | 20 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-8.3 |
| 60 or Better | R-8.3 |
| 65 or Better | R-9.1 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 3 / 49 |
| 60 or Better | 3 / 49 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 10 / 49 TIE |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 3 / 54 |
| 60 or Better | 3 / 54 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 10 / 54 TIE |
Condition Census What Is This?
|
#1 MS68 estimated grade
National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution |
|
#2 MS66+ PCGS grade
Phillip H. Morse Collection of Saint-Gaudens Coinage - Heritage 11/2005:6709, $207,000 - Bella Collection (PCGS Set Registry) |
#2 MS66+ PCGS grade
Pittman Collection - Dr. Thaine B. Price Collection - David Akers 5/1998:119 (as Raw Gem Uncirculated), $126,500 - Phillip H. Morse Collection of Saint-Gaudens Coinage - Heritage 12/2005:2080, $253,000 - Kutasi Collection - Heritage 1/2007:3307, $230,000 |
#2 MS66 PCGS grade
Ed Hipps, privately in 1980 - Dr. and Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Collection - Heritage 1/2012:4649, $230,000 |
|
#2 MS66 PCGS grade
Superior 6/1999:3884, $80,150 - John Michael Stuart Collection - Heritage 8/2004:7818, $161,001.15 - Heritage 7/2008:2129, $253,000 |
| #2 MS66 PCGS grade |
#7 MS65+ PCGS grade
Bowers & Merena 7/2006:1734, $201,250 - Goldbergs 9/2009:3561, $172,500 - Goldbergs 2/2010:2702, $161,000 - Bowers & Merena 6/2010:4144, not sold - Park Avenue Collection |
#8 MS65 PCGS grade
Goldbergs 5/2011:1864, $158,125 |
#8 MS65 PCGS grade
|
| #8 MS65 PCGS grade |
The 1930-S Double Eagle remains the rarest of the 1929 and later Saints. Here's a comparative chart of the number of each date certified by PCGS as of August 2012:
1929 - 185 graded 1930-S - 45 graded 1931 - 76 graded 1931-D - 92 graded 1932 - 74 graded
Of all the regular issue Double Eagles from 1907 to 1932, the only date with a lower population than the 1930-S is the ultra-rare 1927-D.
Of the examples certified by PCGS, all but two are Mint State (curiously, the PCGS Population Reports shows a PCGS AG3 example!). The typical Mint State grade for this date is MS65. A few examples have been discovered in Europe, but the overall high quality indicates that the known examples were saved and preserved carefully by collectors.
The PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census contains nothing lower than a MS65 and, at the top end, several MS66 examples rank as the finest known for the date.
Several different dies appear to have been used on the known examples. One artifact not listed by Akers is a raised die chip on the middle, upper edge of the eagle's top wing that appears on at least one of the known examples. All of Aker's other comments from 1975 and 1988 about this date remain relevant today.
In my opinion, the 1930-S is by far the rarest of the five collectible late dates from 1929 to 1932 from a total population standpoint, although the 1931-D is virtually identical in rarity to the 1930-S in MS-64 or better condition. Most of the known 1930-S double eagles are fairly evenly distributed over the Mint State grades from MS-60 to 63 and MS-64 or MS-65 quality examples are extremely difficult to find. I have seen two examples that were better than MS-65 but neither of them would qualify as full MS-67 by current grading standards.
The 1930-S is always sharply struck although the stars beneath the Capitol building are occasionally a little flat. The surfaces are usually fully frosty and the lustre is typically very good to excellent. Color is a strong point on this issue; it is rarely less than excellent and many specimens are exceedingly attractive with medium to deep orange gold color, sometimes with iridescent greenish gold highlights. Most specimens have a long, nearly horizontal die scratch from the obverse rim at 3:00 to a ray; others have a "strange looking" date with a raised lump inside the 0. Copper spots and stains are quite common on the 1930-S.