LIBERTY
HEAD (WITH MOTTO ON REVERSE) "TWENTY DOLLARS" ON
REVERSE (1877-1907)
1903-S Double Eagle
1903-S
Double Eagle or $20 Gold
PCGS
No:
9044
Circulation
strikes Mintage:
954,000
Proofs:
Unknown
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, CA) below the eagle's tail on
the reverse.
Introduction:
The story for the 1903-S double eagle is the same
as for most of the San Francisco issues of the 1900s.
Many were shipped overseas, only to return in the
last few decades. Although quantities of the date
are available in average condition, gem examples are
quite rare, much more so than for the Philadelphia
issue of 1903. The Eliasberg/Clapp example was purchased
directly from the Mint in 1903, but according to Jeff
Garrett's catalog notes, the coin did not compare
to the other S-Mint issues in the collection.
Key to Collecting: The 1903-S was shipped
in quantity to overseas destinations in the early
^Oth century, providing a rich resource to be tapped
later. Today, nearly all high grade examples have
come bacK to die United States in the past several
decades. Examples are readily available in Mint State.
Aspects of Striking: Usually well struck.
Die Data: Standard four-digit logotype
punch for this year.
Number of Appearances:
151 (34%)
High Grade Condition Points: 183
Average Grade: VF-36
Auction Records:
(77) Unc: Stack's 9/81, 6/81; B&R
6/81, 3/81; Stack's 3/81 (3), 12/80; ANA 1980; Kagin's
7/80; Numisco 5/80; NASCA 4/80 (2); Kagin's 4/80;
Stack's 3/80; Numisco 2/ 80; Stack's 2/ 80; Superior
I..' 80 (4); B&R I / 80; Hughes 1 / 80; New England
1/80; Paramount 11/79 (2); Stack's 9/79; B&R 6/79;
Stack's 2/79; New England 7/78; Superior 2/78; Stack's
12/77,9/77(2); ANA 1977; Stack's 6/77, 2/77; Kreisberg/Cohen
11/76; Pine Tree 3/76; Beck 1976; GENA 1975; Coin
Galleries 11 /75; AAA 9/75; Stack's 6/75, 4/30/75,
4/4/75; AAA 11 ,/74; Stack's 6/74; Scanlon 1973; Stack's
6/73; Kreisberg/Cohen 9/73; Stack's 3/73, 2/73; Gilhousen
1973; Stack's 12/72; Kreisberg/Cohen 11/72; Stack's
2/72;Shapero 1971; Stack's 4/71; Paramount 2/71; Merkin
10/69; Kreisberg/ Cohen6/69; Paramount 3/69, 2/69
(3); Miles 1968; Kosoff 10/65; ANA 1964; Bell 1963;
FUN 1963; Smith 1955; Kern 1950; Atwater 1946; WGC
1946; Bell 1944; Roach 1944
(29) AU: Stack's 3/81; B&R 1/81;
Paramount 11/80; Kreisberg 9/80; Stack's 6/79; B&R
4/78; ANA 1977; Superior 6/77; Stack's 4/76, 4/4/75;
Superior 10/74; ANA 1974; Stack's 12/73; Kreisberg/Cohen
11/70; Stack's 1/70; ANA 1969; Paramount 5/69; Merkin
3/69; Paramount 2/69 (3); Stack's 4/67,9/66, 2/65;
Ward 1964; Walton 1963; Cicero 1960; Melish 1956;
MC 1948
(23) VF: Superior 4/80; Kagin's 10/79;
Superior 10/78; Stack's 9/77; Coin Galleries 4/76;
Stack's 11/67; Kreisberg 9/67, 10/66; Stack's 10/66,
2/65 (6); Wolfson 1962; Golden 1962; Holmes 1960;
Baldenhofer 1955 (2); Farouk 1954; Lee 1947; Flanagan
1944
(2) Fine: Stack's 9/70; Menjou 1950
Comments: The 1903-S is more scarce as a date than
the 1902-S but it is not nearly as difficult to obtain
in uncirculated condition. Overall, the 1903-S is
relatively common, comparable to such issues as the
1889-S, 1894-S, 1895-S, 1896-S and 1906-S. Average
uncirculated specimens (MS-60 coins) are not too difficult
to find but choice uncs are moderately scarce and
gems are very scarce. Unlike the 1901-S and 1902-S,
the 1903-S is seen more often in Unc. than in circulated
condition. Unfortunately, however, not many of those
uncs are choice or gem quality.
