Numismatic

1883-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU

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Struck in 1883 at the San Francisco Mint, this impressive twenty-dollar gold piece represents a historic era of American coinage. Containing 0.9675 troy ounces of gold with a purity of 0.900, the coin is a substantial physical specimen. Over the years, many examples of this issue were melted down, making the surviving specimens particularly intriguing to study. The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair bound by a band clearly inscribed with the word Liberty, surrounded by a ring of 13 stars. This classic depiction was designed by James B. Longacre. The series itself enjoyed a long production run, being struck by the United States Mint from 1850 to 1907. On the reverse, a detailed heraldic eagle holds a shield upon its chest, positioned beneath a cluster of 13 stars. The design is framed by the inscriptions United States of America and the twenty-dollar denomination. The mottoes In God We Trust and E Pluribus Unum are also integrated into the reverse design, completing a powerful national symbol.