1855-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle NGC AU58 CAC
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Introduction
The 1855-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle is a historic San Francisco Mint gold coin from the early years of California Gold Rush coinage. Designed by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre, this Type I Double Eagle represents an important period in the expansion of American gold production and commerce. This example is graded NGC AU58 and has received CAC approval, combining near-Mint State preservation with an additional assessment of quality within the assigned grade.
History
The Liberty Head Double Eagle was introduced for regular circulation in 1850 following the discovery of gold in California. The $20 denomination allowed the U.S. Mint to convert substantial quantities of newly mined gold into federal coinage. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to serve the growing demand for coinage in the American West.
In 1855, the San Francisco Mint struck 879,675 Liberty Head Double Eagles, a substantial increase over its first year of production. The 1855-S belongs to the Type I, or No Motto, series produced from 1850 through 1866. Although the issue had a significant original mintage, surviving examples in higher About Uncirculated and Mint State grades are more challenging to obtain. The 1855-S is also known for generally strong strikes, making well-preserved examples particularly appealing to collectors of early San Francisco gold coinage.
Design
The obverse features James B. Longacre's left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Her hair is arranged in a bun with curls descending behind her neck, while thirteen stars representing the original states surround the portrait. The date 1855 appears below.
The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings and a shield on its breast, surrounded by an oval of stars and rays. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appears around the design, with the denomination TWENTY D. below. As a Type I Liberty Head Double Eagle, the 1855-S predates the addition of IN GOD WE TRUST to the reverse in 1866. The S mintmark appears beneath the eagle, identifying the coin as a product of the San Francisco Mint.
| Year | 1855 |
|---|---|
| Metal | Gold |
| Grade | AU58 |
| Mint | San Francisco |
| Weight | 0.9675 |
| Fineness | .900 |
| Diameter | 34mm |
A LITTLE STICKER MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
Within each number of the coin grading scale is a small range of condition from low-end to high-end. Certified coins of the same grade can be of varying quality. Many of today’s collectors want coins that are solid or premium quality for their assigned grade. CAC holds coins to a higher standard so you can be confident in the value of yours. We verify previously graded coins … and award our sticker only to those coins that meet the standard for today’s selective buyer.
WHAT THE CAC STICKER MEANS:
- Verified. Your coin has been verified as meeting the standard for strict quality within its grade.
- Guaranteed. CAC stands behind our verification.
THE CAC STICKER IS BACKED BY EXPERIENCE.
CAC was founded by leading members of the numismatic community, including John Albanese, a respected authority on coin grading and the rare coin market.
