Numismatic

1861 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU Details (Cleaned)

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Struck during a pivotal moment in American history, this 1861 twenty dollar gold piece represents a remarkable survivor of the pre-1933 era. Countless gold coins of this type were melted down over the decades, making surviving specimens highly compelling to study. This particular example, graded in Almost Uncirculated details, shows evidence of a light cleaning on its reverse side near the rim, yet it still retains the bold details of its mid-nineteenth-century production. The design is the work of James B. Longacre. On the obverse, a left-facing portrait of Liberty is crowned with a band displaying her name, surrounded by an arc of thirteen stars representing the original colonies. The year 1861 is anchored at the bottom. On the reverse, a majestic heraldic eagle bears a shield on its chest, with another cluster of thirteen stars positioned above its head. The words United States of America and the face value of Twenty D. encircle the central motif. Produced at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold with a purity of 0.900. It stands as a physical testament to the artistry and monetary standards of the era, offering observers a direct window into the past.