1908 $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle, No Motto PCGS MS66+ Ex. Wells Fargo Hoard

Pristine, gem-plus example of a stunning work of numismatic art. PCGS has graded 53 in MS66+ with 913 finer in the Wells Fargo Hoard label.

Wells Fargo & Co. Express building circa 1860, Stockton, California.

The numismatic landscape of the 1908 Saint-Gaudens No Motto double eagles changed forever in 1996. A massive hoard of those coins had been traded as an international payment back in 1917. After surviving and escaping the infamous Gold Surrender of 1933, they remained untouched until the 1960s. By that time their original mint bags had turned to dust, and they were carefully placed in fresh, new bags and sealed.

They were stored until 1996, when dealer Ron Gillio was given the opportunity to purchase the entire hoard. He was astounded by the quality of the coins. After Gillio purchased them, he had them stored in a Wells Fargo bank in Las Vegas before arranging for them to be graded the next years. David Hall writes, "The hoard was dubbed 'Wells Fargo Discovery' because the initial transactions involving these coins took place in a Las Vegas Wells Fargo bank." The entire hoard was graded by PCGS in 1997. However, these were no ordinary pieces. They were of incredibly high quality. Jeff Garrett writes, "There were 19,900 pieces and most were Choice to Gem in condition."