Numismatic

1893-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle BU

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In 1893, the San Francisco Mint struck this impressive twenty dollar gold piece, a denomination often referred to as the double eagle. Containing 0.9675 troy ounces of gold, this coin represents a time when high value precious metal currency was actively used in the United States. While many of these historic gold issues were melted down in later decades, surviving specimens in Brilliant Uncirculated condition allow us to appreciate the original artistry of the era. The obverse features a left facing portrait of Liberty, her hair secured by a band bearing her name. Thirteen stars encircle the portrait, representing the original colonies. On the reverse, designer James B. Longacre placed a detailed heraldic eagle with a shield across its chest, beneath a canopy of thirteen stars. The reverse inscriptions read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS, accompanied by the national motto IN GOD WE TRUST. This specific design was produced by the United States Mint from 1850 to 1907. The S mint mark on this piece denotes its origin at the San Francisco facility, which was crucial in processing the vast gold wealth of the West during the nineteenth century.