Numismatic

1853 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle XF-40 PCGS

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In the mid nineteenth century, the United States expanded its currency with impressive large-format gold coinage. Among the most prominent of these issues is the 1853 double eagle, carrying a face value of twenty dollars. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this substantial coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold with a purity of 0.900. The obverse features the classic profile of Liberty, her hair styled upwards and secured with a coronet, surrounded by stars with the year 1853 anchored at the bottom. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle behind a shield, holding an olive branch and arrows, flanked by ornamental scrolls. The inscriptions on this issue include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination expressed as TWENTY D. This specific coin has survived over a century and a half in Extra Fine 40 condition. In this graded state, the coin displays moderate wear on the high points of Liberty's hair and the eagle's feathers, yet it retains clear details and a pleasing overall appearance that highlights the craftsmanship of pre-1933 American coinage.