1882-S $20 Double Eagle PCGS MS-63 – The type three double eagles, minted between 1877 and 1907, has many condition rarities. Yet, these are often overlooked except by the advanced specialists, because of the rarities of many of the earlier issues. Yet, putting a set of type three double eagles together in high quality (especially Mint State) will be an extremely hard task not easily completed.

By the time the type three $20 gold pieces were introduced, many were being exported and subsequently melted in foreign countries. The pieces that did return, often after many decades and longer, showed severe signs of handling. The pieces that had remained in the United States saw heavy circulation between banks, causing them to suffer the same faith. As such, even pieces with a generous mintage of 1,125,000 struck for circulation, like the 1882-S, are extremely hard to find in any grade above MS-62.

PCGS and NGC have only graded approximately three dozen pieces of this issue in MS-63, a number which will most likely be influenced by the rarity of the higher grades. In fact, both PCGS and NGC have graded only a single piece finer. Neither of these has appeared at auction in recent times, making the very limited supply of pieces graded MS-63 the highest grade possible to obtain for advanced collectors.

For the grade, this piece is extremely clean. Some marks are noted on both sides, but none of these are too prominent. The coin has been sharply struck, with all features, including Liberty’s hair strongly defined. Frosty luster, completely unimpaired, is seen on both sides. The coin has toned to a somewhat lighter yellow color, which is the natural colorization for pieces struck at the San Francisco Mint during the 1880s. A wonderful coin and a rare opportunity for the specialist, this coin is sure to please every advanced collector.