Numismatic

1863-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle XF-40 NGC

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Struck during the turbulent years of the American Civil War, this 1863 twenty-dollar gold piece represents a fascinating era of United States coinage. Minted in San Francisco, the coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold with a purity of 0.900. Over the years, vast numbers of these precious metal issues were melted down, making surviving specimens particularly intriguing to study. The obverse showcases a left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair bound by a band clearly inscribed with her name. A ring of thirteen stars encircles the central bust, with the date 1863 positioned at the bottom. This iconic imagery was created by James B. Longacre, whose Liberty design graced the double eagle denomination from 1850 to 1907. On the reverse, a majestic heraldic eagle stands with a protective shield draped across its chest. Thirteen stars form an arc above the eagle, surrounded by the legends indicating the nation of origin, United States of America, and the twenty-dollar face value.