Numismatic

1888-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle XF

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In 1888, the San Francisco Mint struck a limited run of 859,600 double eagles, each containing 0.9675 troy ounces of gold. This twenty-dollar coin represents a significant era of American coinage, minted in 90 percent pure gold. Today, surviving examples in Extremely Fine condition allow us to appreciate the intricate details of late nineteenth-century minting technology and artistry. The obverse of the coin features a left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair bound by a band inscribed with her name. Thirteen stars encircle the portrait, symbolizing the original colonies. On the reverse, designer James B. Longacre placed a bold heraldic eagle bearing a shield on its chest. An additional thirteen stars float above the eagle, framed by the legends indicating the nation of origin and the twenty-dollar denomination.