Numismatic

1896-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle MS-62 NGC

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In 1896, the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint produced this impressive twenty dollar gold piece. Strikingly preserved, this specimen has been certified in Mint State 62 (MS-62) condition, showcasing the intricate details of a design that circulated during a dynamic era of American history. Containing 0.9675 troy ounces of gold with a purity of 0.900, this coin represents a classic era of United States coinage that spanned from 1850 to 1907. The obverse displays a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty, her hair secured while she wears a coronet decorated with pearls and inscribed with the word Liberty. Encircling her likeness are thirteen stars alongside the 1896 mintage year. This side of the coin was designed by James Barton Longacre, whose work defined the look of American gold currency for decades. On the reverse, the design draws inspiration from the Great Seal of the United States. An eagle holds a shield, surrounded by a halo of stars and rays, with the national name United States of America and the face value of Twenty Dollars clearly inscribed. This historic coin offers a fascinating window into late nineteenth-century American minting artistry.