The US Mint produced the Liberty $20 gold coin (Double Eagle) from 1849 to 1907, making it a piece of high face value for that time. This cold coin’s face value was close to the gold spot price during the producing years, but that has changed over time.
Nowadays, the Liberty twenty dollar gold coin value is much higher and depends on the date, mint mark, and preservation level. The minimal price for one specimen is $1,790, but some rare pieces are worth a little fortune.
Liberty Twenty Dollar Gold Coin History
The US Mint started with the Liberty $20 gold coin production in 1849 based on James B. Longacre‘s design. The San Francisco mint struck 1,048,550 pieces that year, well-known as the Coronet head gold $20 double eagle pattern.
Liberty twenty dollar gold coin (1849 to 1907) |
|
| Face value | $20 |
| Compound | 90% gold with 10% copper |
| Coin weight | 1.07499 troy ounces (33.436 g) |
| Gold weight | 0.9675 troy ounces (30.093 g) |
| Coin diameter | 1.34252 inches (34.1 mm) |
| Coin thickness | 0.07874 inches (2 mm) |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Shape | Round |
The following year, Liberty Head (Coronet) appeared as regular issue double eagles in four mints from 1849 to 1907. You can recognize three major types of these gold coins.
Liberty twenty dollar gold coin value by JM Bullion |
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| Date | Quality | |
| Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1850 | $3,200 | $5,500 |
| 1850 O | $5,750 | $14,500 |
| 1851 | $2,300 | $2,750 |
| 1851 O | $4,250 | $7,000 |
| 1852 | $2,300 | $2,900 |
| 1852 O | $4,500 | $7,500 |
| 1853 | $2,250 | $2,750 |
| 1853 O | $4,500 | $10,500 |
| 1854 | $2,250 | $2,850 |
| 1854 S | $4,000 | $8,500 |
| 1854 O | $260,000 | $485,000 |
| 1855 | $2,350 | $3,000 |
| 1855 S | $2,250 | $3,000 |
| 1855 O | $25,000 | $47,500 |
| 1856 | $2,250 | $3,000 |
| 1856 S | $2,250 | $2,850 |
| 1856 O | $275,000 | $475,000 |
| 1857 | $2,250 | $3,250 |
| 1857 S | $2,250 | $2,850 |
| 1857 O | $5,500 | $12,000 |
| 1858 | $2,250 | $3,000 |
| 1858 S | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| 1858 O | $6,750 | $15,000 |
| 1859 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| 1859 S | $2,400 | $3,000 |
| 1859 O | $27,500 | $50,000 |
| 1860 | $2,250 | $2,850 |
| 1860 S | $2,250 | $3,000 |
| 1860 O | $28,500 | $50,000 |
| 1861 | $2,250 | $2,850 |
| 1861 S | $2,250 | $3,250 |
| 1861 O | $24,000 | $50,000 |
| 1862 | $5,750 | $12,000 |
| 1862 S | $2,250 | $3,200 |
| 1863 | $3,000 | $6,750 |
| 1863 S | $2,250 | $3,000 |
| 1864 | $2,500 | $6,500 |
| 1864 S | $2,250 | $3,000 |
| 1865 | $2,100 | $2,850 |
| 1865 S | $2,100 | $2,850 |
| 1866 | $1,720 | $2,500 |
| 1866 S | $1,720 | $3,500 |
| 1867 | $1,720 | $1,850 |
| 1867 S | $1,720 | $2,250 |
| 1868 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| 1868 S | $1,720 | $1,850 |
| 1869 | $1,720 | $2,000 |
| 1869 S | $1,720 | $1,770 |
| 1870 | $1,720 | $2,500 |
| 1870 S | $1,720 | $1,770 |
| 1870 CC | $275,000 | $325,000 |
| 1871 | $1,720 | $2,500 |
| 1871 S | $1,650 | $1,700 |
| 1871 CC | $23,500 | $48,500 |
| 1872 | $1,650 | $1,700 |
| 1872 S | $1,650 | $1,700 |
| 1872 CC | $5,000 | $11,000 |
| 1873 | $1,650 | $1,700 |
| 1873 S | $1,650 | $1,670 |
| 1873 CC | $6,500 | $12,500 |
| 1874 | $1,650 | $1,670 |
| 1874 S | $1,650 | $1,670 |
| 1874 CC | $3,500 | $5,500 |
| 1875 | $1,650 | $1,670 |
| 1875 S | $1,650 | $1,670 |
| 1875 CC | $3,250 | $3,500 |
| 1876 | $1,650 | $1,670 |
| 1876 S | $1,650 | $1,670 |
| 1876 CC | $3,000 | $4,000 |
Liberty Head Twenty D. gold coins No Motto (Type I) minted from 1849 to 1866
Liberty Head $20 gold coin contains Lady Liberty on the obverse wearing a coronet with LIBERTY inscription. Besides thirteen stars surrounding her as a symbol of the first states, you can also see the date at the bottom rim.
The coin reverse features an American bald eagle with wide-spreading wings holding olive branches and arrows in its claws. The shield on its chest symbolizes American independence.
The designer placed the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY D. along the rim, while the saying E PLURIBUS UNUM is written on decorated strips.
Liberty Head Twenty D. gold coins With Motto (Type II) minted from 1866 to 1876
Gold coins produced since 1866 are the second type minted. The US Mint added a saying IN GOD WE TRUST placed inside the thirteen stars above eagle’s head on the reverse.
You can find No-motto pieces minted in San Francisco in 1866, while both Philadelphia and San Francisco mint produced a new With Motto version that year.
Liberty Head Twenty Dollar gold coins With Motto (Type I) minted from 1877 to 1907
This year, the US Mint created the third Liberty $20 gold dollar type in the series by changing the denomination design on the coin reverse. Instead of a shortened version TWENTY D, new goldies got a full denomination TWENTY DOLLARS.
Liberty twenty dollar gold coin value by CoinStudy |
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| Date | Quality | |||
| Very fine | Extra fine | AU | Uncirculated | |
| 1877 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1877 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1877 CC | $2,175 | $2,505 | $6,880 | $44,110 |
| 1878 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1878 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1878 CC | $4,640 | $9,120 | $18,100 | rare |
| 1879 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,960 |
| 1879 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $2,295 |
| 1879 CC | $4,640 | $7,840 | $11,285 | rare |
| 1879 O | rare | rare | rare | rare |
| 1880 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $8,800 |
| 1880 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1881 | rare | rare | rare | rare |
| 1881 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1882 | rare | rare | rare | rare |
| 1882 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1882 CC | $2,175 | $2,505 | $3,090 | rare |
| 1883 S | $2,060 | $2,070 | $2,075 | $2,145 |
| 1883 CC | $2,175 | $2,405 | $4,825 | rare |
| 1884 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1884 CC | $2,175 | $2,505 | $3,090 | $6,800 |
| 1885 | rare | rare | rare | rare |
| 1885 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1885 CC | $9,440 | $13,895 | $19,520 | rare |
| 1886 | rare | rare | rare | rare |
| 1887 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1888 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1888 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1889 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,960 |
| 1889 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1889 CC | $2,175 | $2,505 | $4,410 | $10,270 |
| 1890 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1890 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $2,145 |
| 1890 CC | $2,175 | $2,404 | $2,785 | $8,240 |
| 1891 | rare | rare | rare | rare |
| 1891 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1891 CC | $9,610 | $12,800 | $20,000 | rare |
| 1892 | $2,275 | $2,505 | $8,090 | $15,910 |
| 1892 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1892 CC | $2,175 | $2,404 | $3,540 | $10,640 |
| 1893 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1893 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1893 CC | $2,275 | $3,720 | $5,630 | $11,200 |
| 1894 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1894 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1895 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1895 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1896 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1896 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1897 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1897 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1898 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $2,145 |
| 1898 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1899 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1899 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1900 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1900 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1901 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1901 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1902 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $2,145 |
| 1902 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1903 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1903 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1904 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1904 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1905 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $2,295 |
| 1905 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1906 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1906 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1906 D | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1907 | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1907 S | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
| 1907 D | $1,790 | $1,795 | $1,800 | $1,850 |
The Most Valuable Liberty Twenty Dollar Gold Coins
Quintuple Stella
From the late 1870s and early 1880s, the US Mint produced various gold coin patterns attended for use as an international currency.
One of these coins is Quintuple Stella, minted in 1879. It features Lady Liberty on the obverse surrounded by ★30★G★1.5★S★3.5★C★35★G★R★A★M★S★.
Only five gold Quintuple Stella pieces still exist besides a dozen copper coins, including those plated in gold.
Rare Liberty twenty dollar gold coins
A few Liberty twenty dollar gold coins are costly, including:
1854 O Liberty $20 gold coin – This piece is the most expensive in the series. You should pay an incredible $485,000 for a specimen in the mint state.
1856 O Liberty $20 gold coin – You need to pay at least $475,000 for a piece in the mint state. Even a circulated goldie minted this year is expensive and costs $275,000. An auction record of $1,437,500 from 2009 puts this coin among the most valuable US gold coins ever.
1861 O Liberty $20 gold coin – It typically costs $50,000 in the mint state, but a piece sold in 2014 won an auction record. One collector paid an astonishing $1,645,000 for a specimen in an MS 61 grade.
1870 CC Liberty $20 gold coin – Only dedicated collectors can afford such an expensive coin. Setting aside at least $275,000 for a piece that spent time in circulation is necessary. The one in the mint state can reach $325,000 at auction.
1891 CC Liberty $20 gold coin – The Carson City mint struck only 5,000 of these coins, and only a limited number have survived until these days. Typically, you need to pay up to $20,000 for a piece in an uncirculated condition. On the other hand, those in the mint state are rare, and it is unlikely to find one.
There are several other rare and expensive goldies, including:
- 1860 O Liberty $20 gold coin that costs $50,000 in the mint state
- 1871 CC Liberty $20 gold coin that costs $48,500 in the mint state
- 1877 CC Liberty $20 gold coin that costs $44,110 in the mint state
Some Liberty $20 gold coins are scarce, without many chances to find them on the market, like those minted in:
- 1879 O
- 1882
- 1885
- 1886
- 1891
Be prepared that it is almost impossible to find these pieces even in the worst possible condition.
Summary
Liberty $20 gold coin is a large piece that collectors highly appreciate. All specimens are pricey, but some mint marks and rare dates are worth thousands of dollars. Nowadays, gold prices are high, making all these coins valuable. On the other hand, it is not an ideal moment to buy one of those coins as an investment.
