NNP

1855 $20 Kellogg & Co. Twenty Dollar -- Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. AU. Medium Arrows, K-3a, R.6. With the shortage of parting acids in the newly opened mint in San Francisco, it fell to private minters to convert gold dust into coin form. For much of 1854 and 1855, Kellogg & Co. struck a greater number of twenty-dollar gold pieces than the federal branch mint. Edgar Adams reported in his 1912 article "Various Californian Private Mints" that Kellogg & Co. struck $6 million worth of double eagles. Three different reverse varieties exist for the 1855 twenties, each corresponding to the length of the arrows on the reverse. The surfaces are brighter than expected, explaining the "Improperly Cleaned" designation. The obverse exhibits myriad small planchet voids, while the reverse shows none. Traces of mint luster appear around the outer devices on both sides. Strongly struck throughout. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15117, realized $14400. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.