1876-S $20 MS62 Certification #06643462, PCGS #8978

2010 October Stamford Coinfest Signature US Coin Auction - 1145 - Lot 5026 - 1876-S $20 MS62 PCGS. CAC. The centennial year for America marked the end of the Type Two double eagles, as the 1877 issues had the denomination spelled out TWENTY DOLLARS instead. This is a boldly lustrous MS62 example, yellow-gold with an assortment of marks. Intriguingly, the depression behind Liberty's head has natural luster flow with the rest of the coin, suggesting a planchet flaw rather than a post-striking abrasion.

David Akers (1975/88)

The 1876-S is one of the commonest of all S-Mint Liberty Head Double Eagles and it is easy to obtain in any grade from VF to average uncirculated (Unc-60). In choice mint state, however, it is very scarce and in MS-65 or better condition it is decidedly rare. As a date, the 1876-S is significantly less rare than the 1974-S or 1875-S and it is most comparable to such common later issues as the 1899-S and 1900-S. Like the 1875-CC which is relatively common, even in Unc., the 1876-S is higher priced than many of the rarer later issues only because it is a Type II and thus is in greater demand as a type coin. For example, the 1876-S is not as rare in Unc. as the 1877-S through 1882-S San Francisco Mint issues and yet an uncirculated 1876-S would probably bring more at auction than a mint state example of the others.

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Ron Guth

The 1876-S $20 was well-represented in the Saddle Ridge Hoard by twenty-seven examples, all of which were gradeable except for a single coin.  The three best coins in this group graded out at PCGS MS64, which tied them with a dozen other examples for Third Finest.