Numismatic

1903 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle MS-64 NGC

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In 1903, the Philadelphia mint struck this twenty-dollar gold piece, a denomination often referred to as a double eagle. Composed of 90 percent pure gold, the coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of precious metal. This specific specimen has been certified in Mint State 64 (MS-64) condition, preserving the intricate details of a design that circulated in American commerce during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. On the obverse side, Lady Liberty is depicted in profile, facing left. Her hair is styled with a coronet resembling a pearl crown, which clearly bears the inscription of her name, Liberty. Encircling her portrait are thirteen stars, representing the original colonies, with the mintage year of 1903 positioned at the bottom. The reverse of the coin showcases a heraldic eagle, a design heavily influenced by the Great Seal of the United States. Above this central motif, the inscription United States of America is proudly displayed, while the face value of twenty dollars is positioned below. This iconic design, created by James Barton Longacre, was minted for more than half a century, from 1850 to 1907.