$20 Liberty AU (Dates Vary)
2026/11/01
dependable and safe
2026/11/01
Great Experience
2026/10/31
Have ordered numerous times from Blanchard and have always been satisfied with their product
2026/10/31
Pretty easy
2026/10/31
Difficulty getting a verification code
2026/10/31
good prices and selection is as well. nice easy site to navigate
Introduction
The $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle is one of the most recognizable gold coins of 19th-century America. Designed by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre, the Liberty Head Double Eagle was introduced following the California Gold Rush and became an important vehicle for converting the nation's expanding gold supply into coinage. This example is offered in About Uncirculated (AU) condition, retaining strong design detail with only light wear on the highest points. Dates and mintmarks vary based on availability.
History
Congress authorized the $20 double eagle denomination in 1849 as large quantities of gold from California began flowing into the nation's monetary system. A small number of 1849 pieces were produced as patterns, while regular production began in 1850. The Liberty Head Double Eagle remained in production through 1907 and was struck at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City, and Denver Mints during various periods of the series.
The Liberty Head Double Eagle is generally divided into three major types. Type I coins, struck from 1850 through 1866, lack the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Type II introduced the motto in 1866 and continued through 1876. In 1877, the denomination on the reverse was changed from TWENTY D. to TWENTY DOLLARS, creating the Type III design that remained in production through 1907.
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 and the date appears below.
The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast, surrounded by elaborate scrollwork and rays. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination appear around the design. Depending on the date and type, the reverse may display the denomination as TWENTY D. or TWENTY DOLLARS, and coins from 1866 onward feature the motto IN GOD WE TRUST above the eagle.
| Year | Dates vary |
|---|---|
| Metal | Gold |
| Grade | AU |
| Weight | 0.9675 |
| Fineness | .900 |
| Diameter | 34mm |
