1872-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-61 (PCGS).
Lustrous frosty surfaces are further adorned with vivid golden-honey color. Both the striking quality and level of preservation are superior for an earlier-dated Liberty Head double eagle of the Type II design. The mintage for the 1872-S amounted to 780,000 pieces, reduced by 148,000 coins from the previous year at the San Francisco Mint. As with many issues from the era, some portion found its way into overseas banking and bullion transactions. Perhaps 100 only or so Uncirculated coins are known today, with the preponderance of such pieces at MS-60 or just slightly finer. Many of the Uncirculated 1872-S double eagles in numismatic hands were returned to America from overseas banking sources beginning in the latter half of the 20th century. Given that the certified population of this issue dwindles rapidly above the present grade level, this lovely MS-61 represents the finest realistically obtainable in an 1872-S $20 as far as most collectors are concerned.
PCGS# 8965. NGC ID: 26AF.