LIBERTY
HEAD (NO MOTTO ON REVERSE) TWENTY DOLLARS OR DOUBLE EAGLE
(1849-1866)
1866-S Double Eagle,
No Motto
1866-S
Double Eagle, No Motto
PCGS No:
8945
Mintage:
Circulation
strikes:
Estimated 12,000
Proofs:
None
Designer:
James Barton
Longacre
Diameter:
±34
millimeters
Metal content:
Gold - 90%
Other - 10%
Weight:
±516
grains (±33.4 grams)
Edge:
Reeded
Mintmark:
"S"
(for San Francisco) below the eagle's tail on the
reverse.
Introduction:
The 1866-S double eagle is the last of the Without Motto
type. Both the Without Motto and With Motto double eagles
were struck in 1866 at the San Francisco Mint. The Without
Motto variety is by far the rarest. It is actually one
of the rarest double eagles of this type. Nearly all
of the coins seen of the date are very well worn or
heavily marked. There are probably no more than 200
examples known in all grades. Extremely Fine pieces
are rare, and in About Uncirculated the issue is considered
a major rarity. Even by today's more liberal standards,
there are no known Mint State examples. Both the Bass
and Smithsonian specimens grade just Extremely Fine.
A PCGS AU-50 example sold at auction in 2005 for $25,300. Key to Collecting: Ending the Type
1 series is the 1866-S No Motto, an anachronism as the
new style for the year was the Type 2 with IN GOD WE
TRUST on the reverse. At least two reverse dies still
on hand were used to strike 120,000 pieces, according
to Mint records. However, for some reason, many fewer
have survived, proportionally, than for the 1861-S Paquet
(for which we know that 19,250 were struck). Of the
couple hundred or so 1866-S No Motto twenties in existence,
all show evidence of circulation, with VF being the
norm, although an occasional EF is seen, and now and
then an AU comes on the market. Similar to the Paquet
from the same mint, these coins are usually seen heavily
bagmarked and somewhat "scruffy," including
up to the AU level and, also similarly, this variety
seems to be a candidate for overtrading (opinion). In
1982 David W. Akers said tJiat above EF, "the 1866-S
No Motto is excessively rare, and for all purposes,
unobtainable." Perhaps in a strict grading seme
that statement is still true today. Aspects of Striking: Usually with an
average strike, some lightness of detail. Die Data: 1866 four-digit date logotype
with 18 spaced most closely, 86 wider, and 66 still
wider, but the differences are not dramatic. Lower left
serif of 1 is longer than lower right serif. 2nd 6 is
slightly low and is slightly larger than the 1st 6 (from
die 2nd 6 being punched more deeply into the matrix
when die four-digit logotype was made). Logotype used
on 1866-S No Motto and at botli mints for the 1866 With
Motto coinage. 6 obverse dies for the 1866-S coinage
were shipped from Philadelphia in November 1865. Old
reverse dies were still on hand, these being of the
No Motto type. These were used until replaced by the
With Motto (IN GOD WE TRUST) reverse dies which were
shipped from Philadelphia in March 1861; see separate
listing for 1866-S With Motto. WA. Philpott and Henry L. Zander Collections
(B. Max Mehl, November 1945) Lot 1794: "1866-S
Without motto. Extremely Fine, frosty mint surface.
Very rare. Seldom offered." Realized $210. I.E. Chadwick Collection (Numismatic
Gallery, May 1952} Lot 828: "1866-S No Motto. Fine.
Very rare, much more so than is generally supposed.
Many of the well known collections lacked this coin."
Realized $180. ANA Convention Sale (Stack's, August
1976) Lot 3219; "1866-S No Motto. Extremely Fine,
flatly struck as usual, the light circulation marks
expected on a coin of this grade. Rare, and seldom seen
above the Fine to Very Fine grades." Realized $450. King of Siam Sale (Bowers and Merena
Galleries, October 1987) Lot 2043: "1866-S No Motto.
EF-45. Very sharply struck, with excellent definition
of central details, far finer than the Akers plate coin...."
Realized $1,540.
Number of Appearances:
57 (13%)
High Grade Condition Points: 2
Auction Records:
(2) AU: New England
4/80; Stack's 2/72
(16) EF: ANA 1979; New England
3/79; Stack's 2/79; New England 11/77; Stack's 6/77;
New England 5/77, 3/77; ANA 1976; GENA 1975 (2);
New England 11/75; RARCOA 4/75; AAA 11/74; Stack's
6/74; Kreisberg/Cohen 9/71;
Bell 1963
(36) VF: Stack's 12/81. 6/81; Kreisberg
9/80; Stack's 9/79(2), 6/79; Kagin's 9/78; Paramount
3/78; Stack's 4/77; Paramount 5/76; GENA 1975; Pine
Tree 6/75, 2/75; Superior 10/74; ANA 1974; Scanlon
1973: Gilhousen 1973; ANA 1971; Stack's 4/71; Paramount
2/71; Stack's 10/70; DiBello 1970; ANA 1969; Stack's
3/69; Miles 1968; Shuford 1968; Stack's 4/67; ANA
1966; Bolt 1966; Kosoff 10/65; ANA 1964; Walton
1963; Wolfson 1962; Golden 1962; ANA 1956; WGC 1946
(3) Fine: Ivy 2/79; AAA 2/74; FUN
1963
Comments: The Double Eagle collector who would like
a high grade (AU or better) example of this date is
likely to be disappointed. I know of only two AU-50
specimens and I have never even heard a rumor of a
mint state piece. Actually this issue is very rare
in any condition, second among S-Mint issues only
to the 1861-S Paquet, and 28th overall in the entire
204 coin series. In rarity according to average grade,
the 1866-S No Motto is tied for first with the 1870-CC
and 1871-CC. It is also at the top based on rarity
in high grade as determined by High Grade Condition
Points. When available, which is not really very often,
the 1866-S No Motto is typically VF and heavily bagmarked.
A strictly graded EF is very rare and, above that
level, the 1866-S No Motto is excessively rare and.
for all practical purposes, unavailable.
