Numismatic

1861-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU-50 PCGS

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In 1861, as the United States stood on the brink of profound national division, the San Francisco Mint struck a significant run of twenty-dollar gold pieces. This particular coin, designated with the 'S' mint mark, represents one of the 748,750 double eagles minted in California during that momentous year. Crafted from 0.900 fine gold, this substantial coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of precious metal, reflecting the immense wealth flowing from the Western goldfields. This specimen has survived the decades in About Uncirculated condition, officially graded as AU-50. The obverse features the classic Liberty design, surrounded by stars with the date 1861 anchored at the bottom. On the reverse, the United States of America is proudly proclaimed alongside the twenty-dollar denomination, rendered as 'TWENTY D.' on the actual piece. It stands as a remarkable tangible survivor of mid-nineteenth-century American coinage.