Circulation Strike Circulation Strike

Circulation Strike

Designed by: James Barton Longacre
Issue Dates: 1877-1907
Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper
Diameter: 34 mm
Weight: 33.436 grams (515.99 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Proof Mintage: 2,426

With the discovery of a large quantity of gold in California in 1848 and the rush that followed, large quantities of bullion were available to the Mint, and in 1849 a pattern $20 gold coin or double eagle was struck. Production got underway the following year in both Philadelphia and New Orleans, and these were joined by San Francisco in 1854 and Carson City in 1870.

James B. Longacre’s obverse design was an enlarged version of the Liberty head he had done for the gold dollar which had debuted the previous year. The reverse pictured a heraldic eagle with an arc of rays above. The coins contained nearly a full ounce (.9675) of pure gold, and their diameter was almost exactly between a half dollar and a silver dollar. The double eagles packed substantial purchasing power and while inflation statistics over nearly two centuries can prove tricky to measure exactly, $20 in the mid 19thcentury would equate to around $500 today.

Three distinct types of $20 Liberties were made, distinguished by changes on the reverse of the coin. The first, made from 1850 through 1866 did not carry the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the back. The second (1866-1876) had the motto, and the denomination at the lower rim read: “TWENTY D.” In 1877, the denomination was changed to “TWENTY DOLLARS”, and this third type continued through the end of production in 1907.

A complete date and mintmark set of $20 Liberties is a daunting task, and few collectors can expect to accomplish that feat. Standing in the way is the 1879-O, 1885, and 1886. The last really tough date is the 1891, after which most are available in circulated grades.

Due to their impressive size and weight, $20 Liberties struck from roughly 1894 through 1907 are a popular form in which to hold gold bullion, and many XF-AU pieces are held by investors for that purpose.

1877-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1877-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 42,565
Estimated Survivors: 1,250-1,450 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1877 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1878 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1878 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 543,625
Estimated Survivors: 500-800 Coins in Mint State
Obverse Text:

1878 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1878-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1878-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 13,180
Estimated Survivors: 250-350 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1878 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1879-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1879-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 10,708
Estimated Survivors: 250-350 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1879 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1879-O Liberty Head Double Eagle
1879-O Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 2,325
Estimated Survivors: 100-120 in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1879 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1881 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1881 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 2,199
Estimated Survivors: About 36 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1881 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1882 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1882 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 571
Estimated Survivors: 20-30 in Business Strike, 12-15 in Proof Strike
Obverse Text:

1882 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1882-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1882-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 39,140
Estimated Survivors: Around 1,200 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1882 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1883-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1883-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 59,962
Estimated Survivors: Around 1,500 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1883 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1884-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1884-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 81,139
Estimated Survivors: 2,600-3,000 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1884 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1885 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1885 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 751
Estimated Survivors: About 100 Circulation Strike Coins
Obverse Text:

1885 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1885-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1885-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 9,450
Estimated Survivors: 295-430 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1885 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1886 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1886 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 1,000
Estimated Survivors: 40-60 in Business Strike, 25-30 in Proof Strike
Obverse Text:

1886 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1888 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1888 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 226,161
Estimated Survivors: About 3,500 in Mint State, 20-30 in Proof Strike
Obverse Text:

1888 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1889-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1889-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 30,945
Estimated Survivors: 1,340-1,425 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1889 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1890-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1890-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 91,209
Estimated Survivors: 3,300-3,600 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1890 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1891 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1891 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 1,390
Estimated Survivors: 130-140 in Business Strike, 18-22 in Proof Strike
Obverse Text:

1891 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1891-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1891-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 5,000
Estimated Survivors: 175-250 Coins in Circulated Conditions
Obverse Text:

1891 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1892-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1892-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 27,265
Estimated Survivors: 950-1,525 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1892 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1893-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
1893-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 18,402
Estimated Survivors: 500-800 Coins in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1893 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | E PLURIBUS UNUM | IN GOD WE…

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1895-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
1895-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 1,143,500
Obverse Text:

1895 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1902-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
1902-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 1,753,625
Obverse Text:

1902 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1903 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1903 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 287,270
Estimated Survivors: More Than 10,000 in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1903 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1903-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
1903-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 954,000
Estimated Survivors: 10,000-15,000 Coins in Mint State Condition
Obverse Text:

1903 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1904 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1904 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 6,256,699
Estimated Survivors: 60-80 Coins in Proof Condition
Obverse Text:

1904 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1905 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1905 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 58,910
Estimated Survivors: About 1,500 in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1905 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1905-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
1905-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 1,813,000
Obverse Text:

1905 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1906 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1906 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 69,596
Estimated Survivors: 1,000-1,500 in All Conditions
Obverse Text:

1906 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1906-D Liberty Head Double Eagle
1906-D Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 620,250
Obverse Text:

1906 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

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1906-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
1906-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 2,065,750
Obverse Text:

1906 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1907 Liberty Head Double Eagle
1907 Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 1,451,786
Obverse Text:

1907 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1907-D Liberty Head Double Eagle
1907-D Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 842,250
Obverse Text:

1907 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More
1907-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
1907-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
Circulation Mintage: 2,165,800
Obverse Text:

1907 | LIBERTY

Reverse Text:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | TWENTY DOLLARS | IN GOD WE TRUST | E PLURIBUS…

Learn More

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