Numismatic

1866-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle w/Motto AU-50 PCGS

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This 1866 gold double eagle represents a pivotal moment in United States coinage history. Minted in San Francisco, this twenty dollar piece belongs to the famous Liberty Head series. The year 1866 marked a significant design transition, as it was the first year the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added to the reverse of the double eagle denomination. Struck from 0.900 fine gold with a precious metal content of 0.9675 troy ounces, this coin has survived the decades in an About Uncirculated condition, specifically graded as AU-50. The obverse displays the classic portrait of Liberty facing left, surrounded by thirteen stars, with the date 1866 positioned at the bottom. The reverse features the heraldic eagle with the newly introduced motto banner draped above the eagle's head, surrounded by the country name and the denomination "TWENTY D." With a recorded mintage of 830,250 pieces, this San Francisco issue carries the "S" mint mark, signifying its origin at the Western mint. It stands as a remarkable artifact from the post-Civil War era, capturing both the artistic standards and the shifting cultural sentiments of mid-nineteenth-century America.