1866 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle MS-60 PCGS (Motto)

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The year 1866 marked a significant transition for the United States twenty dollar gold piece, introducing a key design element that would define the series for decades. This Liberty Gold Double Eagle, struck at the Philadelphia Mint, represents a moment of change. It features the addition of the national motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, within the circle of stars on the reverse side, a feature absent from the earlier years of the design. Crafted from 0.900 fine gold with a precious metal content of 0.9675 troy ounces, the obverse of the coin displays the classic profile of Liberty facing left, her hair secured in a bun with loose curls cascading down her neck. She wears a coronet inscribed with the word LIBERTY, surrounded by thirteen stars representing the original colonies, with the date 1866 positioned at the bottom. The reverse showcases a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast, holding an olive branch and arrows. The newly introduced motto sits above the eagle, encircled by rays and stars. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination TWENTY D. encircle the central design. Out of a mintage of 698,745 pieces struck at the main Philadelphia facility, this specimen has survived in remarkable condition, certified at a Mint State 60 grade.