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Olevian Numismatic Rarities

1873-S Liberty Head $20 Gold Piece NGC Certified MS60

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Product Description

The discovery of gold in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill in California persuaded Congress to expand its use in coin production. In March of 1849, legislation authorized the mintage of two new denominations of gold coins, the one dollar and twenty-dollar gold pieces, which became the smallest and largest regular production gold coins ever made in terms of both value and size. The government needed a larger coin than the existing $10 piece to accommodate the massive quantities of gold being mined in California. The resulting $20 gold piece, commonly referred to as the “double eagle,” is an impressive coin. Containing nearly one full ounce of gold, it is a pleasure to hold these hefty pieces in your hand.

The double eagle’s purchasing power was enormous and amounted to over a month of ordinary wages in 1850. Many people could not even afford to own one. The obverse features a left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet, or small crown, encircled by 13 stars representing the original states. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with a shield on its chest holding a double ribbon inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM, as well as an olive branch and arrows in its talons. Above the eagle is a halo of 13 stars and an arc of rays.

The 1873-S “Closed 3” variety offered here is one of the rarer $20 gold pieces minted at San Francisco. They were produced for a very short time in 1873 until the shape of the numeral 3 in the date was modified to the “Open 3”, as it was confusingly similar to an “8”. Mint State examples of this variety are particularly scarce, with the finest known example graded Mint-State 63 (out of 70). The Mint-State 60 example offered here is thus only slightly below the finest obtainable for this type, making it an exceptional collector coin with good investment potential.

Product Details
  • Measurements
    4.5"L x 4.5"W x 1.5"H
  • OriginUnited States

— $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle (1849-1907)
— Designer: James Barton Longacre
— Weight: 33.4 grams
— Diameter: 34 mm
— Composition: 0.900 Gold & 0.100 Copper
— Net Gold Weight: 0.96645 oz Pure Gold
— Obverse Design: Liberty With Coronet, Facing Left / 13 Stars
— Obverse Inscription: LIBERTY / DATE
— Reverse Design: Heraldic Eagle With Double Ribbon, Shield, Olive Branch, & Arrows / Halo Of 13 Stars / Arc Of Rays
— Reverse Inscription: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IN GOD WE TRUST / E PLURIBUS UNUM / TWENTY D.

— Ships In Luxurious Matte Black Wood Box Lined In Velvet With A Certificate Of Authenticity

A Note About Coin Grading & Certification:
This is a certified coin and its quality and authenticity are guaranteed. The condition of a coin is officially graded on a 70-point scale according to standards set forth by the American Numismatic Association. Grades under 60 represent circulated grades, while grades from 60 through 70 represent uncirculated, or “mint-state” grades. Very few, if any, older coins are known to exist in perfect MS70 grade. Analogous to GIA certification for diamonds, independent expert certification services examine coins, certify authenticity, assign consensus grades, and encapsulate them in a sonically sealed, hard plastic holder with grade and unique serial number displayed. The two leading firms, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), have become widely recognized for their objective grading practices and high industry standards. They continue to provide reliable consumer protection for rare coin collectors and investors and preserve the integrity of the rare coin industry. A third company, Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC), also provides secondary verification of previously certified coins. A green oval sticker is applied to those specimens CAC believes meet their strict standards of quality for the certified grade. The coin offered for sale in this listing has been certified by one or more of these leading services so you can be confident in its authenticity and stated condition.

Shipping Information
  • Shipping Availability
    Canada, United States
  • Shipping Policy
    Discounted Shipping
  • Discounted Shipping
    $15.00 first item / $15.00 each additional
  • Ship In
    3-4 weeks
  • Return Policy
    Final sale, not eligible for return or cancellation

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