A 1913 Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle, graded Proof 66 and marked with a green Certified Acceptance Corp. sticker by Professional Coin Grading Service, was the most beautiful. It sold at Stack’s Bowers’ August 17 Rarities Night sale for $336,000 Only 58 of the 99 Proof 1913 double Eagles were produced.
The auction cataloger stated that the coins were “particularly notable by their absence are distracting and otherwise grade-limiting touch marks.” These features could easily be identified as’shiny areas’, which indicate breaks in the original texture. This exquisite specimen is enhanced by subtle reddish-rose and powder blue highlights.
John W. Dannreuther’s book on Proof gold issues shows that there are 35 to 45 examples left, with most of them grading Proof 65 or lower. PCGS has only graded five examples in this grade, none of them being better.
