1913 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. Proof-66 (NGC). CAC. The warm honey-gold surfaces of this piece possess full originality and remarkable technical quality in a rare Proof striking of the 1913 Saint-Gaudens double eagle. Particularly noteworthy by their absence are distracting or otherwise grade-limiting contact marks. Such features would readily reveal themselves as "shiny" areas indicating breaks in the original texture. Instead, this lovely Gem exhibits an unbroken sandblast finish with myriad sparkling facets discernible with the aid of a loupe. Remarkably intricate and gorgeous to examine in-person. Perhaps most significantly, it is the sole finest example to receive approval from CAC, testifying to its overall superior quality. Records indicate that the Philadelphia Mint struck 99 Proof double eagles in 1913, though just 58 coins were distributed due to the declining interest in the Matte, Roman Gold and Sandblast Finishes used to strike coins of this type since the series inception in 1907. The finish used to strike the 1913 issue is actually unique within the Proof Saint-Gaudens double eagle series, being a bit coarser than that used for the Proof 1911 and Proof 1912 yet a bit more fine than the finish seen in the typical Proof 1914 and Proof 1915. The 1913 is the sixth rarest of 10 Proof Saint-Gaudens double eagle issues in todays market, surpassing the 1907 High Relief, 1908 Motto, 1910 and 1912 in this regard. Survival estimates have evolved significantly over the past several decades, as more examples have emerged from old collections and the issue has been studies in detail by scholars. In 1988, gold specialist David Akers remarked that "Proofs of 1913 are very rare; at most 20-25 are known." Q. David Bowers was more conservative when writing in 2004, suggesting that only 12-15 coins survived. The most recent research by John Dannreuther (2018) indicates that 35 to 45 distinct specimens remain, though most of these are in grades of Proof-65 and lower. At Proof-66 (NGC), this piece is a significant survivor from this scarce issue, with only 14 coins certified finer by NGC. A beautiful and conditionally rare piece that is sure to see spirited bidding at auction.
