Numismatic

1868-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU-58 NGC

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In 1868, the San Francisco Mint struck a significant run of twenty-dollar gold pieces, producing 837,500 of these impressive coins. Carrying the 'S' mint mark, each piece was struck from 0.900 fine gold, containing nearly a full troy ounce of precious metal (specifically 0.9675 troy ounces). This issue represents a fascinating era of American coinage when large-denomination gold circulated heavily in the western United States. The obverse features the classic Liberty design, dated 1868. On the reverse, the coin bears the traditional heraldic eagle design surrounded by the legend 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and the denomination. It also features the national motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' positioned above the eagle, a design element that was still relatively new to American gold coinage in the late 1860s. This particular specimen has survived the decades in an exceptional About Uncirculated 58 condition, preserving the intricate details of its mid-nineteenth-century engraving.