1857-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle PCGS MS65 Ex.S.S. Central America w/ Box & COA

This piece would be perfect for the both a gold double eagle enthusiast, as well as someone with a true appreciation of American history. This coin is a relic of the tragic wreck of the SS Central America. PCGS has graded a total of 1,096 of the 20B Bold S variety of the 1857-S twenty. Of those, there are 221 in MS65 with 52 finer. Collector’s Universe prices this issue at $16,000.00 in MS65.

Wreck of the SS Central America. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Some may wonder how a coin, such as the current offering, could be so well preserved after sitting at the bottom of the ocean for a good 130 years. The vessel landed under 8,000 feet of water: a dark, freezing, and unwelcoming place where there was no current or disturbance whatsoever. Additionally, gold is a stable metal and contact with salt water has little effect. Even more, and most importantly, the vast majority of the coins retrieved from the ship were packed in wooden boxes that were tightly stacked, giving them even more protection from the elements.