An 1856-O Liberty Head $20 gold piece will be among the highlights of the official Long Beach convention auction conducted by Heritage Auction Galleries May 28-31.
Catalogers call the coin a proof and note that the coin is certified Specimen-63 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. and is the rarest New Orleans $20.
Original mintage was 2,250. The double eagle is the only example of this issue that is uncirculated and it is called the finest example of a possible 10-30 survivors.
It is described as having an amazing full strike and fully reflective fields.
Another New Orleans gold $20 rarity, this one dated 1879, and graded AU-58 by the Professional Coin Grading Service, is noted to be one of two coins that have made the AU-58 grade and only one example known is finer.
The catalog says the coin has “lemon-yellow color and rose patina, with only a faint trace of high point wear.”
Another rare piece from the many $20 gold coins going on the block in the Heritage auction is from the Carson City Mint. It is an 1871-CC that grades NGC AU-58 and is one of the finer pieces, but six are recorded in higher Mint State grades, the catalog says.
A PCGS AU-53 Paquet reverse 1861-S $20 will also be offered.
Other gold double eagles in the sale include an NGC MS-65 1907 Saint-Gaudens in high relief with a wire rim and a PCGS MS-65 high relief example with a flat rim.
Overall, the coins will be sold in three sessions over three days, May 28, 29 and 31. The sales opens with Colonial pieces and works its way forward chronologically and up the denominational scale.
For more information, visit www.ha.com.
