Numismatic

1866-1876 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle Type 2 VF

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This twenty dollar gold piece represents a fascinating era in United States coinage, minted during the decade spanning 1866 to 1876. Struck from 0.900 fine gold, each coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of precious metal. These specific pieces survive in Very Fine condition, showing honest wear from their time in circulation. Over the decades, vast numbers of these large gold issues were melted down, making the surviving specimens highly compelling objects of study for historical enthusiasts. The design, created by James B. Longacre, showcases a left-facing portrait of Liberty on the obverse. Her hair is bound by a band clearly inscribed with her name, and she is encircled by thirteen stars representing the original colonies. On the reverse, a grand heraldic eagle guards a shield draped across its chest, with another cluster of thirteen stars positioned above its head. The reverse also displays the issuing authority, United States of America, alongside the denomination. Produced by the United States Mint, these double eagles were struck at various facilities, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, Carson City, Denver, and New Orleans. Exploring the subtle differences in strike and survival rates across these different mint locations offers a captivating window into the nineteenth-century American monetary system.