1897 $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle Gold Coin NGC MS 61

1897 $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle 0.9675 oz Gold Coin NGC MS 61

This beautiful $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle was graded by NGC as Mint State 61; Mint luster may be diminished or noticeably impaired.

This $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle was minted between 1849-1907 and designed by Chief Engraver James Longacre. The coin contains .9675 troy ounces of gold and is struck in 90% fine gold. A testament to the huge boom in the California Gold Rush, this coin is a collector's item. Until 1849, the U.S. Mint produced only $2.50, $5 and $10 coins. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill and the ensuing California gold rush, however, soon prompted Congress to authorize the mintage of the legendary $20 Double Eagle Liberty gold coin. Due to the great influx of gold from the California Gold Rush, the US Treasury was forced to expand its plans for the $1 gold coin to a much larger Gold Double Eagle and in January 1850, the first regular production Liberty Double Eagle gold coins were struck.

Over the years, this $20 Liberty gold coin was produced in three types. Type I, the "No Motto" variety, was minted from 1849 to 1866. Type II, bearing the designation "Twenty D" on the reverse, was minted from 1866 to 1876, followed by the most common variety, Type III (1877-1907), with "Twenty Dollars" fully spelled out. This historic Double Eagle gold coin offers the highest gold content of any regular issue U.S. gold coin of its era and possesses one of the most arresting reverses on any United States coin: a dauntless eagle, its wings fully spread.

The obverse side, inspired by the Roman sculpture "Crouching Venus", depicts Lady Liberty facing left and wearing a pearl-studded diadem with the word "LIBERTY" inscribed on it. The reverse depicts the Great Seal of the United States, featuring a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast beneath a ring of 13 stars. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "TWENTY DOLLARS" are inscribed along the edge of the coin. This gleaming Double Eagle gold coin keepsake from America's past reigned as King of American coins from 1850 to 1907 and remains a tangible reminder of our rich, hard-money heritage.

Like all of our other gold coins, this one is guaranteed to be 100% authentic. Item will be wrapped and packaged safe for delivery.