1931-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS). This is an enchanting Near-Gem with intense mint luster that mingles with vivid golden-tan patina. Striking detail is razor sharp throughout, and the surfaces are expectably smooth for the assigned grade. Rarer even than a limited mintage of 106,500 pieces might imply, the 1931-D is one of the key issues to completion of a Saint-Gaudens double eagle set. As with many gold issues from the 1920s and 1930s, the 1931-D saw the widespread destruction of undistributed examples in the years following President Franklin Delano Roosevelts gold recall of 1933. So elusive are survivors, in fact, that David W. Akers (<em>A Handbook of 20th Century United States Gold Coins: 1907-1933, 2008 revision</em>) speaks of a small cache of approximately 15 to 20 pieces that entered the numismatic market in the early 1980s as a "hoard." With more than 150 coins believed extant in all grades, the 1931-D is just as rare as the 1920-S in an absolute sense, an example of which is also offered in this sale. There are more Mint State coins known for the 1931-D, to be sure, but nowhere near enough to satisfy demand from todays quality conscious gold specialists. One of many significant double eagle offerings in this sale, this 1931-D will be a prized addition to an advanced cabinet or Registry Set
