Numismatic

1865-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle XF Details (Cleaned)

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In 1865, the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint struck this impressive twenty dollar gold piece. Containing 0.9675 troy ounces of gold, this coin represents a major denomination from the pre-1933 era of American coinage. While many double eagles of this type were melted down over the decades, surviving specimens offer a tangible connection to the mid nineteenth century. The design, created by James B. Longacre, was a staple of American commerce from 1850 to 1907. On the obverse, a left-facing personification of Liberty wears a band inscribed with her name, encircled by thirteen stars. The reverse displays a detailed heraldic eagle bearing a shield, with another cluster of thirteen stars positioned directly above the bird. The words United States of America and the twenty dollar denomination frame the central eagle design. This particular specimen is graded Extra Fine, though it shows signs of past cleaning. It stands as a fascinating survivor of a historic gold coinage program that helped fuel the expanding American economy.