A Landmark Year for San Francisco Gold Coinage

The San Francisco Mint has served a pivotal role in American economic and numismatic history. It was first established in response to the California Gold Rush and remains in operation today. Unlike branch mints in Charlotte, Dahlonega and Carson City – which closed when the local bullion supply dried up – the San Francisco Mint stayed open to serve the booming western economy.
 
In its 163 years of operation, one date is particularly important for the San Francisco Mint: 1906.
 
1906: The San Francisco Earthquake
The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake is remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in American history. Not only was it a violently powerful 7.8 magnitude quake, but it struck a heavily populated and densely developed city. An astounding 80% of the city was destroyed by the earthquake, essentially decimating the area and forcing San Francisco to rebuild from scratch. The initial shaking did its share of harm, but it was the uncontrollable fires that did the most damage.
 
Incredibly, the San Francisco Mint was one of the few structures to survive the quake and ensuing fires. The building was solidly constructed for security purposes, but ultimately this helped it withstand the intense earthquake and firestorms. Dramatic photos from 1906 show the Mint surrounded by rubble and debris where adjacent buildings once stood. By all accounts, it was the only financial institution in San Francisco capable of operating immediately following the quake.
 
At the time of the earthquake, an astounding $300 million worth of gold was stored in the San Francisco Mint. This represented a full third of the U.S. gold reserves! Had the building failed, the financial stability of the federal government could have been compromised. Not only did the building survive, but remarkably, it was able to resume production almost immediately.
 
Today, 1906-S gold coins are prized by collectors for their connection to the San Francisco Earthquake. They are arguably some of the most desirable Liberty gold coins issued at that facility. In addition to boasting a fascinating historic backstory, 1906-S $20 Double Eagles represent outstanding value. Despite being over 50 times scarcer than the “generic” 1904 $20, the 1906-S sells for a modest premium.
 

Today's Offer
Today, we can offer a limited quantity of 1906-S Double Eagles in Uncirculated grade. Each coin is certified MS61 by either PCGS or NGC. All 1906-S $20s are hard to find, but they are especially challenging in Uncirculated grades.
 
Although we’ve offered $20 Liberties and Saints in prior Spotlights, rarely can we offer this date specifically. Why? The 1906-S $20 simply does not exist in any kind of quantity. In fact, the coins we’re making available today represent many months’ worth of searching.
 
You can add these rare and historically significant San Francisco $20 gold pieces to your collection at a modest premium over “generic” prices. We have just FIVE coins available for $2,499 per coin with free shipping. 
 
It took months to locate these coins, but it won’t take long for them to vanish from our inventory. Yesterday, we offered these coins to our exclusive Numismatic Navigator Newsletter subscribers and nearly sold out. If you're interested in a receiving first pick on all our numismatic, world, ancient, and rare coin offers, you can subscribe to this newsletter here. 

Whether you’re just getting started on a U.S. gold collection – or you’re fleshing out an advanced set – the 1906-S Double Eagle represents an outstanding opportunity. These coins are historic, numismatically significant, and a superb value! Take advantage of this special offer by calling us at 800-831-0007, or by email at infoasi@assetstrategies.com.