1857-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle, 20E PCGS AU55 (CAC) Ex.SS Central America w/Box & COA

This specimen is from the first salvage mission of the SS Central America during 2003. This coin is in the exclusive PCGS Gold Foil label. That tells you that this important example is from that first, earlier mission. The Gold Foil label is an important pedigree for devotees of shipwrecked gold coins. Owning this attractive piece would make a numismatist proud. Out of its mintage of 970,500, there have been only 369 of the "20E Broken A" Variety graded by PCGS in the "Gold Foil" holder.

From among those, PCGS has graded 52 as AU55 with 309 finer. In CAC, there are 8 in AU55 with 28 finer. CAC prices this variety at $6,850.00 in AU55.

Treasure of the SS Central America upon the ocean’s floor. Perhaps the offering from AUCM is in this photograph. Photo: PCGS.com.

Doug Winter writes of the 1857-S double eagle: "This is a well-struck issue. The hair detail on the obverse is sharp with many of the curls and the strands at the top of Liberty’s head showing individual definition. The stars usually have full radial lines and the denticles are sharp and clear. On the reverse, there is usually some minor weakness on the tips of the wings, but the overall detail is excellent with detail not seen on most Type One issues from the San Francisco mint. The coins from the S.S. Central America are generally well-struck and show better overall detail than the coins which are not from this hoard."