1929 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS).A near-Gem Mint State, visually appealing example of this key date issue from the later Saint-Gaudens double eagle series. Lustrous and satiny, the surfaces are further enhanced by vivid rose-orange color. They are also uncommonly smooth for the assigned grade. Sharply struck and supremely attractive.<p>October 1929 saw the American stock market crash that set off a chain of events plunging the worlds economy into a severe depression. Production of gold coins continued but double eagles were no longer released into general circulation in any meaningful quantity. Even though the Philadelphia Mint struck 1,779,750 double eagles that year, most sat in Treasury vaults, while only small quantities were released, mostly sent overseas to European bank vaults where they would remain for years. Almost the entire mintage ended up melted down and cast into ingots that were shipped to the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox. Beginning in the late 20th century, very small groups of 1929 $20 gold pieces were discovered overseas - almost all in Mint State or very near it - and soon repatriated. While the 1928 double eagle is a common late-year Saint-Gaudens coin, not so the six issues that came after. Of these six, the 1929 is the most available, but this is a relative term indeed; PCGS estimates that at best just under 1,000 are extant in all grades. As to certification numbers, it is important to note that these are events or submissions. The number of individual coins is less, often far less in the instance of particularly expensive coins, as here. This is a rare opportunity to obtain a premium quality Mint State 1929 $20 that will certainly please the successful bidder.PCGS# 9190. NGC ID: 26GL.
