Numismatic

1888-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU

---

Struck in 1888 at the San Francisco Mint, this twenty dollar gold coin represents a classic era of American coinage. It contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold, composed of a 0.900 fine gold alloy. Over the years, a significant number of these large gold pieces were melted down, making surviving specimens particularly fascinating to study. The obverse side presents a left-facing portrait of Liberty, who wears a hair band inscribed with her name. Thirteen stars encircle her image, representing the original colonies. On the reverse, a detailed heraldic eagle displays a shield on its chest, positioned beneath a canopy of thirteen stars. The reverse also bears the legends indicating the United States of America as the issuing country alongside the twenty dollar denomination. This specific gold piece has been preserved in Almost Uncirculated condition. Designed by James B. Longacre, this iconic design was produced by the United States Mint from 1850 to 1907, serving as a cornerstone of high-denomination currency during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.