Numismatic

1861-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU-58 NGC

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In 1861, as conflict began to divide the nation, the San Francisco Mint struck this impressive twenty dollar gold piece. With a total mintage of 768,000, these large coins served as vital instruments of commerce in the American West. Today, surviving examples in high grades offer a direct window into a pivotal moment in United States history. This specific double eagle is composed of 90 percent gold, containing nearly a full troy ounce of the precious metal (0.9675 troy ounces). It has been certified by professional numismatists as About Uncirculated 58 (AU-58), indicating that it retains much of its original luster and detail from the day it left the coining press. The obverse displays the classic Liberty profile, her hair secured with a band bearing her name, surrounded by thirteen stars representing the original colonies. The year 1861 is boldly stamped below. On the reverse, an eagle holds an olive branch and arrows, flanked by the denomination and the 'S' mint mark, signifying its origin at the California minting facility.