Numismatic

1876-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU

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Struck in the year of the United States centennial, this twenty dollar gold piece represents a fascinating era of American coining. Minted at the San Francisco facility, this specific issue belongs to the Type 2 variety of the long-running series produced from 1850 to 1907. Composed of 90 percent gold, the coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of precious metal. Over the decades, vast numbers of these gold issues were melted down, making surviving specimens like this one especially notable for study. The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair bound by a band inscribed with her name. A ring of 13 stars surrounds her image, representing the original colonies. On the reverse, a detailed heraldic eagle displays a shield on its chest, with another cluster of 13 stars positioned directly above the bird. The legend on the reverse displays the country of origin, United States of America, alongside the denomination, which is abbreviated as Twenty D. This classic design was originally conceived by James B. Longacre.