1885-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle PCGS MS61

Here’s a good-looking piece to include in your collections. PCGS has graded 731 as MS61 with 2,252 finer. This issue has a mintage of 683,500 pieces.

As with most other contemporary San Francisco Mint double eagles, the vast majority of 1885-S coins were put into circulation. That is because in the American west paper money of any kind was rejected by virtually everyone in favor of hard gold and silver pieces. Those specimens that were not circulated were shipped to Europe as a trade commodity, while others were placed in U.S. banks to serve as backing for Gold Certificates. The famous Saddle Ridge Hoard of gold coins that was discovered in California by a couple walking their dog in 2013 included twenty of the 1885-S twenties, including five Mint State pieces.

The Old San Francisco Mint, where this piece was struck in 1885.