Two Very Special Saints Your Collection Needs!

Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles are among our clients’ favorite coins. It’s easy to see why; $20 “Saints” offer an unbeatable combination of beauty, history, and impressive metallic content. These iconic coins are in perpetual demand – and as such we’re continuously on the hunt for special $20 Saints. Our criteria are simple: we’re always looking for unusual dates or pieces in exceptional condition. Today, we’re excited to offer you coins that fit both categories!

For our July Spotlight, we’re offering our clients two special groups of Saints:

• 1908 No Motto Wells Fargo Hoard $20 MS65/66
• 1923-D (Denver) $20 MS65/66

What makes these coins so special? First, let’s start with the intriguing Wells Fargo Nevada Hoard pieces…
 

1908 No Motto Wells Fargo Hoard $20 Saints
In the late 1990's, a California coin dealer stumbled upon a pristine and intact hoard of 20,000 1908 “No Motto” $20 Double Eagles. The find was one of the most spectacular in American numismatics and made national headlines.

The hoard was remarkable for its enormous size, but the quality of the coins was truly exceptional. The coins were essentially “as-made” and were preserved in basically the same condition in which they left the Mint!

The dealer was cognizant of the coins’ pristine condition. He arranged to have the coins transported directly from a Nevada Wells Fargo bank vault to PCGS. The staff graders were dazzled by the quality; many coins in the group qualified as MS65 or MS66.

In fact, a select few actually received the virtually unheard-of MS67 and MS68 grades. The absolute best coins in the entire hoard landed in MS69 holders, and they remain tied as the finest $20 Saints ever certified in PCGS history! In other words, the Wells Fargo hoard yielded more “Super-Grade” Saints than any other discovery in numismatic history.

Even though it’s been over twenty years since this discovery, Wells Fargo 1908 $20's are still known for their impressive quality and famed backstory. The vast majority of the Wells Fargo coins were absorbed in the late 1990s and early 2000s; relatively few appear on the market today. Apparently most landed in strong collectors’ hands. Even though dealers and collectors are very aware of these famous coins, few actual specimens are available on the market.

How can you tell a 1908 No Motto $20 is from this hoard? For coins traced directly to this famous cache, both PCGS and NGC will print “Wells Fargo” directly on the insert tag. The specimens being offered today have the important Wells Fargo pedigree displayed on the holder, thus eliminating any doubt of their provenance.
 

1923-D Denver Mint $20 Saints
During the Roaring Twenties, the United States struck a massive number of Double Eagles. Not only was there a need for gold coins back at home, but enormous quantities were shipped overseas too. Foreign banks, governments, and institutions wanted a safe store of value – and the $20 Saint was considered the ultimate in security. This sentiment was especially true after World War I.

While the Philadelphia Mint issued plenty of $20 Saints from 1922-1928, the same cannot be said for the branch mints. The San Francisco facility released very few coins and Denver’s production may have been even lighter. Whereas Philly coins were more likely to land overseas or in New York City vaults, the Denver Mint serviced local clientele.

When President Franklin Roosevelt banned private gold ownership in 1933, American citizens were more likely to redeem their gold compared to European entities. Thus, Denver-mint $20 Saints from the 1920s were very likely to be melted. Not only do these coins have lower mintage figures, but their survival rates were probably impacted too.

Between the smaller mintages and substantial melting, Denver Mint Saints can be shockingly rare. The 1923-D is a prime example, as NGC has certified just over 6,000 pieces in all grades. To put this into perspective, NGC has graded over 328,000 1924 Philadelphia Saints. The 1923-D is over 50 times as rare as the generic 1924 Saint!

There’s one more reason we love this particular date. Numismatic author David Akers commented the following about the 1923-D $20:

“Without a doubt, the 1923-D is one of the most consistently attractive issues of the entire series. Even middle grade Mint State pieces generally have excellent ‘eye appeal’ and MS-64 or better pieces rank right at the top of the Saint-Gaudens list in terms of overall appearance. The typical 1923-D is frosty, fully struck and highly lustrous. The color is invariably excellent, almost always rich orange or coppery gold, often with greenish gold highlights.”

In summary, the 1923-D is highly desirable for its rarity and superb aesthetics. Not only are they particularly beautiful examples of the Saint-Gaudens design, but they’re significantly scarcer than common dates.

Today's Offer
We’re excited to offer a limited quantity of 1908 Wells Fargo and 1923-D $20 Saints. All coins are graded by either NGC or PCGS, and include free shipping for all quantities. Even though we have just a dozen of each issue, it took the better part of a year to find these!
 
1908 No Motto "Wells Fargo Hoard" Double Eagles

• We have just three (3) in MS65 for $3,199 each
• We have eight (8) in MS66 for $4,299 each

1923-D Denver Mint Double Eagles

• We have just three (3) in MS65 for $3,399 each
• We have seven (7) available in MS66 for $4,499 each

These are perfect for $20 Saint specialists looking to flesh out your collection – or anyone who wants to add something special to your holdings. The 1908 Wells Fargo and 1923-D $20 Saints available today offer a fantastic combination of beauty, backstory, and rarity.

Take advantage of this unique offering and act quickly. Given our clients’ voracious appetite for $20 Saints, we doubt these 23 coins will last long! Call us at 800-831-0007, or email infoasi@assetstrategies.com.

*Prices subject to change based on market fluctuation and product availability. Prices reflected are for cash, check, or bank wire. Free shipping, handling, and insurance are available for all quantities ordered. Grading service selection in random and depends on availability. Offer expires Friday, July 16, 2021, or while supplies last.