$20, 1854-S MS-63 (PCGS). Variety-11B, Open A. Attributions are by Robert Evans of the Columbus-America Discovery Group and are included on the PCGS label. The notation is quite simple. Variety-11B is variety B of the 11th coin in the Type I double eagle series.

Memorable 1854-S Double Eagle

Details

$20, 1854-S MS-63 (PCGS). Variety-11B, Open A. Attributions are by Robert Evans of the Columbus-America Discovery Group and are included on the PCGS label. The notation is quite simple. Variety-11B is variety B of the 11th coin in the Type I double eagle series.
Lustrous and satiny honey gold surfaces of remarkable quality, with olive iridescence and strong overall appeal for the grade. An elusive date above EF, and downright rare in Mint State with unetched surfaces (some etched-surface pieces exist and account for most certified examples). Choice for the grade.

Further details

Finest of 25 examples from the S.S. Central America treasure certified by PCGS. During the past two decades some etched-surface 1854-S $20 pieces have come on the market, creating an overall population of more than one hundred Mint State coins. However, the present piece stands high as a coin from a separate find, a piece without the etching, and nearly as nice as it was at the time of minting. Date logotype lightly impressed, 5 "wide open," top of 1 nearly twice as far from truncation as bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. A die crack runs upward from the dentils, crossing the 5 and then running into Liberty's hair curls above; another crack juts to the right from the first crack, terminating above the 4 in the date. S mintmark lightly impressed and delicately formed, somewhat large in size, and with the top of the letter embedded in the tail feathers above. The reverse is cracked in several places, verging on shattered; no doubt the die shattered completely at some later time. The first crack runs from the dentils to the left side of the T in TWENTY, then branches left and right. The left branch runs through the field, underlining the UN in UNITED before branching and running to the bottom of the N and across the field as well, terminating at the underside of the eagle's wing. Another crack runs from the eagle's wing tip to the first S in STATES. The right branch of the first crack runs across the tops of TWEN before jutting diagonally downward across the second T in the denomination. Some raised diagonal die lines can be seen in the rays above the eagle. The left side of the A in STATES is missing or "broken."