1861 $20 Liberty NGC AU58 CAC
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Introduction
The 1861 $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle graded NGC AU58 CAC is a high-grade circulated example of a classic 19th-century American gold coin. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the first year of the Civil War, this Type I Double Eagle was produced in .900 fine gold and contains nearly one troy ounce of pure gold. Its AU58 grade from Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) places it just below Mint State, while CAC approval recognizes its quality and eye appeal within the assigned grade.
History
The Liberty Head Double Eagle was introduced in 1850 following the California Gold Rush, when the influx of newly mined gold helped create the need for a larger denomination U.S. gold coin. With a face value of $20, the Double Eagle became an important vehicle for converting gold into federal coinage and remained in production until 1907.
The 1861 Double Eagle was struck during a pivotal year in American history as the nation entered the Civil War. The Philadelphia Mint produced 2,976,453 regular-issue Double Eagles that year, making 1861 the highest-mintage issue of the denomination until 1904. The coin belongs to the original Type I Liberty Head design, which lacks the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. That motto would not be added to the Double Eagle until 1866.
Design
The obverse features Liberty facing left and wearing a coronet inscribed with LIBERTY. Thirteen stars representing the original states surround the portrait, while the date 1861 appears below.
The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle with a shield across its breast, holding an olive branch and arrows. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY D. identify the issuing nation and denomination. As a Type I Double Eagle, the reverse does not include the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The absence of a mintmark identifies this coin as a Philadelphia Mint issue.
| Year | 1861 |
|---|---|
| Metal | Gold |
| Grade | AU58 |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| 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.
