1857 $20 Liberty NGC AU55 CAC +

Introduction

The 1857 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle is a remarkable survivor from the formative years of America's largest circulating gold denomination. Graded NGC AU55 with CAC approval and a CAC Plus designation, this impressive coin combines substantial gold content, historic significance, and strong collector appeal. Struck during the height of the California Gold Rush era, the 1857 Double Eagle represents a period when newly discovered gold transformed the nation's economy and coinage.

History

Introduced in 1850 following the influx of gold from California, the Liberty Head Double Eagle became the workhorse of American commerce and international trade. By 1857, these large gold coins were widely used in banking transactions, overseas commerce, and the movement of wealth throughout the expanding United States. Most examples saw extensive circulation, exportation, or melting, making attractive About Uncirculated survivors increasingly scarce today. The 1857 issue offers collectors a tangible connection to the Gold Rush era and the rapid economic growth that defined mid-19th century America.

Design

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with LIBERTY. Thirteen stars representing the original colonies surround the portrait, while the date appears below. Designed by James B. Longacre, the Liberty Head motif became one of the most enduring designs in American gold coinage.
The reverse displays a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings, a Union shield on its chest, and arrows and an olive branch held in its talons, symbolizing strength and peace. Surrounding inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY D. Above the eagle appears the national motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. As an 1857 issue, this coin was struck before the addition of IN GOD WE TRUST to the Double Eagle series.