1872-S $20 Liberty PCGS XF40

Introduction

The 1872-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle graded PCGS XF40 is a well-preserved circulated example of an important 19th-century American gold coin. Struck at the San Francisco Mint in .900 fine gold, this Type II Double Eagle contains nearly one troy ounce of pure gold. Its XF40 grade from Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) recognizes an example with clear design detail and evidence of circulation consistent with its 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 western gold into federal coinage and remained in production until 1907.
The 1872-S Double Eagle belongs to the Type II design used from 1866 through 1876. This version added the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to the reverse while retaining the abbreviated denomination TWENTY D. The San Francisco Mint struck 780,000 1872-S Double Eagles, reflecting the facility's important role in processing gold from the American West. As a circulated PCGS XF40 example, this coin offers a tangible connection to an era when Double Eagles played an important role in large financial transactions and the movement of gold.

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 1872 appears below.
The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle with a shield across its breast, holding an olive branch and arrows. Thirteen stars and rays appear above the eagle beneath the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY D. identify the issuing nation and denomination, while the S mintmark below the eagle identifies the San Francisco Mint.