Numismatic

1865-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle MS-65 ICG (Brother Jonathan)

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In 1865, the San Francisco Mint struck a significant run of 1,042,500 gold double eagles, each carrying a face value of twenty dollars. These heavy gold pieces were vital to commerce in the American West, minted from 90 percent pure gold with a total precious metal content of 0.9675 troy ounces. While many of these coins entered daily circulation, a select group met a different fate, sinking to the ocean floor aboard the ill-fated steamship SS Brother Jonathan. This specific coin survived the shipwreck in extraordinary condition, eventually being recovered and graded as Mint State 65 (MS-65). The obverse features the classic profile of Liberty, her hair bound, with the date 1865 positioned below her portrait. The reverse displays the traditional heraldic eagle design, flanked by the San Francisco mintmark 'S' to denote its West Coast origin. Because it was protected by the sea for over a century, this certified specimen offers a rare, pristine look at Civil War era coinage.