1857-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. Variety-20A. Spiked Shield. With One Pinch of California Gold Dust. MS-64+ (PCGS).Offered is a beautiful coin and exceptionally desirable presentation from the S.S. Central America, the fabled "Ship of Gold." Both sides of this Choice Mint State double eagle display lovely mint luster and vivid golden-rose patina. Fully struck and nicely preserved, this is a premium quality near-Gem that is very close to an even higher grade.<p>Once the <em>Central America</em> treasure was made available for sale, numismatists could not only acquire a Mint State example of this issue, but the majority of the recovered specimens were in Choice to Gem Mint State grades. This lovely historic double eagle will certainly please the successful bidder.<p><p>This coin is housed in a special large size PCGS holder that also includes one pinch of California gold dust. The back of the PCGS insert features the signature of Bob Evans, chief scientist and historian of the <em>S.S. Central America</em> treasure. Under Evans signature is the note: "I certify this coin and gold dust were recovered from the <em>S.S. Central America</em>." Also included in this lot is a cardboard Ship of Gold presentation box designed to house the large size PCGS holder. <strong><em>The box is available to the winning bidder upon request to Stacks Bowers Galleries at the close of the auction</em></strong>.<p>PCGS# 670713.From the Q. David Bowers Collection. Earlier ex S.S. Central America.
