Numismatic

1850-1866 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle Type 1 XF

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Introduced in the mid nineteenth century, the twenty-dollar gold coin represents a monumental era in American currency. This specific variety, minted between 1850 and 1866, is known as the Type 1 Liberty Double Eagle. Each of these impressive pieces contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold, struck with a purity of 90 percent. Over the decades, vast numbers of these coins were melted down, making the remaining survivors highly prized by historians and numismatists alike. The obverse of the coin displays a left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair bound by a band clearly inscribed with her name. Thirteen stars encircle the portrait, representing the original colonies. On the reverse, designer James B. Longacre placed a detailed heraldic eagle bearing a shield across its chest, with another cluster of thirteen stars positioned above the bird's head. The inscriptions on this side identify the nation as the United States of America and state the face value of the coin. These large gold pieces were produced at various United States Mint facilities, including Philadelphia, Carson City, Denver, New Orleans, and San Francisco. This particular example survives in Extra Fine condition, preserving the bold artistry and historical character of a bygone era in American minting.