Numismatic

1897-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle MS-62 NGC

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In 1897, 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 with a purity of 0.900, this coin represents a historic era of United States coinage. The design, which was produced from 1850 to 1907, was created by James B. Longacre and remains one of the most recognized images in American numismatic history. The obverse side of the coin displays a left-facing profile of Miss Liberty. Her hair is secured back, and she wears a coronet or diadem that clearly bears the inscription LIBERTY. Surrounding her portrait are thirteen stars representing the original colonies, with the year 1897 positioned at the bottom. On the reverse, a powerful eagle with outstretched wings holds a shield across its chest. Above the eagle, a circular arrangement of thirteen stars sits beneath a halo of rays. The inscriptions United States of America and Twenty Dollars frame the central design. This specific specimen has been preserved in a certified grade of Mint State 62 (MS-62), showcasing the intricate details of Longacre's nineteenth-century artwork.