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Gorgeous 1857-S Double Eagle
Variety 20A
Deep Mirror Prooflike
$20, 1857-S MS-63 DMPL (PCGS). Variety-20A, Spiked Shield. Extremely sharp strike with deeply mirrored, fully prooflike rich yellow gold lustre. Few very minor surface marks are visible, most prominent being a thin line of abrasions across the bust into the left obverse field.
Details
$20, 1857-S MS-63 DMPL (PCGS). Variety-20A, Spiked Shield. Extremely sharp strike with deeply mirrored, fully prooflike rich yellow gold lustre. Few very minor surface marks are visible, most prominent being a thin line of abrasions across the bust into the left obverse field.
This is an amazing example of the most available reverse die identified among 1857-S double eagles from the S.S. Central America treasure. The prominent feature of this reverse die is two raised spikes from and through the left edge of the shield, just below the wing.
An excellent article discussing the variation among reverse dies of 1857-S double eagles was written by Robert Evans and published in the July 2000 issue of The Numismatist. Evans, a member of the Columbus-America Discovery Group team and a vital part of the California Gold Marketing Group research and market activities, discussed in detail each of eight reverse dies found among over 5,000 1857-S double eagles he examined.
Bob is a scientist who modestly states that he is not a numismatist and had no previous experience with numismatics aside from the collections many of us had as young people. Today, his numismatic credentials are most impressive, and the Numismatic Theatre which he presented at the American Numismatic Association Convention last August was packed wall to wall, front to back-with knowledgeable numismatists in the audience who appreciated every word of what he said. We hope that Bob will share his thoughts, research skills, and enthusiasm in the hobby for many years after the dispersal of the S.S. Central America treasure. A reprise of the Numismatic Theatre program, with Bob Evans and Dave Bowers, will be presented at Christie's just prior to the present sale. [SSCA 2958].
This is an amazing example of the most available reverse die identified among 1857-S double eagles from the S.S. Central America treasure. The prominent feature of this reverse die is two raised spikes from and through the left edge of the shield, just below the wing.
An excellent article discussing the variation among reverse dies of 1857-S double eagles was written by Robert Evans and published in the July 2000 issue of The Numismatist. Evans, a member of the Columbus-America Discovery Group team and a vital part of the California Gold Marketing Group research and market activities, discussed in detail each of eight reverse dies found among over 5,000 1857-S double eagles he examined.
Bob is a scientist who modestly states that he is not a numismatist and had no previous experience with numismatics aside from the collections many of us had as young people. Today, his numismatic credentials are most impressive, and the Numismatic Theatre which he presented at the American Numismatic Association Convention last August was packed wall to wall, front to back-with knowledgeable numismatists in the audience who appreciated every word of what he said. We hope that Bob will share his thoughts, research skills, and enthusiasm in the hobby for many years after the dispersal of the S.S. Central America treasure. A reprise of the Numismatic Theatre program, with Bob Evans and Dave Bowers, will be presented at Christie's just prior to the present sale. [SSCA 2958].
Further details
Tied with six other DMPL examples with only one finer DMPL example from the S.S. Central America treasure certified by PCGS.