1896 $20 NGC MS62+ PL CAC. NGC has designated only 17 1896 double eagles as prooflike. This coin is the second finest graded, and the only 1896 approved by CAC.

With each new acquisition for the Grandview Collection of Liberty Double Eagles in 2013, I plan to describe the coin and relevant background information with a journal post. Additional images of the coin and holder will also be provided in the journal. I may even post about interesting coins that have been in the collection for many years.

Type 3 double eagles were produced over a long span of years from 1877 until 1907, and were minted in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Carson City, New Orleans and Denver in various years. The primary differences between Type 3 and Type 2 double eagles is that the denomination on the reverse reads TWENTY DOLLARS, and on the obverse, Liberty's portrait was shifted forward for better centering and there is more detail in the hair. As with all Double Eagles, this coin contains nearly an ounce of pure gold (0.9675 ounce to be precise).

The 1896 $20 in the Grandview collection was graded by NGC as MS62+ PL, and is among 17 examples in all grades designated as prooflike by NGC (April 2013). There are 7 PL double eagles in MS62 grades, with this coin being the only one graded MS62+. There is a single coin finer at MS63. This is the lone 1896 $20 with the PL designation to be approved by CAC.

The surfaces on this MS62+ coin are relatively free from abrasions and hits, though even the smallest abrasions are amplified by the reflective fields. There are no distracting marks or deep gouges that plaque many double eagles due to their large size and the softness of the metal. This coin is well struck with excellent detail in the hair, coronet and stars on the obverse and wings and shield elements on the reverse.

Grandview Collection

http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=106968

Images of the 1896 double eagle from Grandview Collection are linked below.

http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinView.aspx?PeopleSetCoinID=1560848

Coin shown in the NGC Holder: