Numismatic

1869-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU-55 NGC

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In 1869, the San Francisco Mint struck a significant run of twenty-dollar gold pieces, producing 686,750 of these large, impressive coins. Known as the Liberty Gold Double Eagle, each piece contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold within a 0.900 fine gold composition. This particular specimen has survived the decades in an exceptional state of preservation, certified by independent grading experts at About Uncirculated 55 (AU-55). The obverse of this classic coin features the left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair secured with a tiara, surrounded by thirteen stars representing the original colonies, with the date 1869 anchored at the bottom. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, shielded and flanked by ornate scrolls. Above the eagle, the national motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" is encircled by stars, while the outer rim bears the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the denomination "TWENTY D." Carrying the "S" mint mark on the reverse, this coin represents the early industrial output of the Western United States. The combination of its substantial gold weight, nineteenth-century artistry, and the distinct San Francisco origin makes this double eagle a captivating subject for study and historical appreciation.