A husband and wife from Toledo have learned that the old gold coin they inherited from the husband’s father is valued at around $250,000.
The Double Eagle, the nickname for $20 denomination U.S gold coins, was struck in 1870 at the Mint in Carson City, Nevada. It is 1 of only 41 known examples from an original mintage of 3,789, according to Professional Coin Grading Service.
“The couple, who want to remain anonymous, brought in three $20 gold pieces, and during our initial examination we excitedly noticed the ‘CC’ Carson City mint mark on one of the Double Eagles. We told them it was a six-figure coin,” Nick Karpinski, Vice President of the Toledo Coin Exchange said.
The wife told Karpinski that she thinks the coin was brought to Ohio during the oil boom years in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The coin has been graded Very Fine 30 (on a scale of 1 to 70).
“This is an exceptionally rare coin. It was exciting just to hold it,” Karpinski said.
“Everyone in the rare coin business hears countless stories about people bringing in their old coins for appraisal or sale only to find out they are worth far less than they hoped. It is wonderful that the Toledo-area couple found out the historic gold coin they inherited years ago has a retail value of about $250,000,” said Brett Charville, President of Professional Coin Grading Service.