Numismatic

1856-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU-50 NGC

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In 1856, the San Francisco Mint struck this impressive twenty-dollar gold piece, a denomination known to enthusiasts as the Double Eagle. Bearing the 'S' mint mark, this coin represents a fascinating era of Western American history, produced during a time when gold coinage was vital to the expanding economy. The coin is composed of 90 percent gold, containing 0.9675 troy ounces of precious metal, and has been certified in About Uncirculated 50 (AU-50) condition. The obverse features the classic Liberty design, surrounded by stars with the year 1856 anchored at the bottom. On the reverse, the heraldic eagle is encircled by the legend 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and the denomination 'TWENTY D.' This specimen offers a tangible connection to the early operations of the branch mint in California, where a total mintage of 1,189,750 of these large gold pieces was produced.