Numismatic

1900 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle AU

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In 1900, the Philadelphia Mint produced a substantial run of 1,874,460 gold double eagles, each containing 0.9675 troy ounces of pure gold alloyed with copper for durability. This twenty-dollar denomination represents a key era of United States currency, which came to an end in 1933 when the nation departed from the gold standard. Following this policy shift, vast quantities of these gold pieces were melted down, leaving only a fraction of the original mintage intact for modern enthusiasts to examine. Designed by James B. Longacre, this series was minted from 1850 to 1907. The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty, her hair bound by a band inscribed with her name. Thirteen stars encircle the portrait, representing the original colonies, with the year 1900 positioned at the bottom. On the reverse, a detailed heraldic eagle stands with a protective shield over its chest. Above the eagle, thirteen stars form a halo, accompanied by the mottoes "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM". The outer rim is inscribed with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the face value, "TWENTY DOLLARS".