Type: Liberty Head Double Eagle
Years of Issue: 1849 – 1907
Designer: James B. Longacre
Mint Marks: Philadelphia (no mintmark), Carson City (CC), Denver (D), New Orleans (O), San Francisco (S)
Composition: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Gross Weight: 33.436 grams
Actual Gold Weight (AGW): 0.9675 troy oz
Diameter: 34.0 mm
Thickness: ~2.41 mm
Edge: Reeded
Obverse:
Features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with the word LIBERTY, encircled by 13 stars representing the original colonies, with the date of issue below.
Reverse:
Displays a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast, clutching arrows and an olive branch, with a glory of rays and stars above. Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY DOLLARS. Later issues (1900–1907) show the motto IN GOD WE TRUST above the eagle’s head.
Historical Context:
The Liberty Head Double Eagle was born from the California Gold Rush, authorized by the Coinage Act of 1849 to handle the massive influx of gold. It became a symbol of American economic might in the late 19th century, circulating domestically and internationally as trusted trade coinage.
Collector Appeal:
Pre-1933 U.S. gold — exempt from certain government restrictions.
Large, nearly one-ounce gold content with a classic 19th-century design.
Popular with both investors (for gold weight) and numismatists (for historical value, condition, and mintmark rarity).
