1868 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

In 1868, the Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins were produced in the San Francisco and Philadelphia mints. With less than one million made that year, it makes the 1868 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin among the more rare in the $20 Gold Coins series. James B. Longacre designed the Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins in 1849, which was during the height of the Gold Rush in California. Obviously, the San Francisco mint had the larger output of gold coins during many years, and that was the case in 1868.

These coins are quite old, but collectors are still attempting to find them in excellent condition. Though it may seem difficult to believe, there are still plenty of well-preserved pieces available for purchase. Finding these coins, however, is no easy task.

Grading the 1868 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

For collectors, the first step you must take before ever purchasing a coin this old is to take a look at its condition. Naturally, most collectors would prefer to add only well-preserved pieces to their collections. With that being said, however, finding these well-preserved pieces is no simple task, and is actually one that is growing increasingly difficult as the years pass.

For most, the best way to have a coin’s condition judged is to send it away for grading. This costly process is not always an option for everyone, so we have provided below an outline of the popular coin grades as well as their characteristics.

Uncirculated: A coin that is determined to be Uncirculated is one that never spent any time exchanging hands. These coins will have all of their imagery perfectly preserved and the texture of the coin is such that it feels as though it was just minted. For collectors, these are the most desirable pieces and are also some of the most expensive.

Extremely Fine:If a coin is graded as being Extremely Fine, this means that the coin in question has only been circulated for a short period of time. These coins will appear to be absolutely pristine, but under closer inspection you will see that there is some light scratching. Collectors still jump at the opportunity to purchase these coins, even though they are not in perfect condition.

Fine: A coin graded as being Fine is one that spent a good bit of time being circulated, but did not incur boatloads of damage as a result. You will see some light and consistent scratching, and the surfaces of the coin will have been worn down due to the exchanging of hands over the years.

Good: This is the lowest grade a coin can receive, and is usually indicative of a piece that was circulated for decades at a time. These coins will be complete with a whole host of damages that can range from the actual bending of the coin to deep chips. All in all, these coins are in rough shape but still desirable for most collectors.

Pricing the 1868 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

When it comes to the 1868 Liberty Head Gold Coin, or any other coin of this age, there are a few things you must look at to determine price. For one, because there were multiple types of this coin produced every year, the exact type of coin you have will affect the price. Also, the condition of the coin is everything. This means that the more well-preserved pieces are the ones that will sell for the highest prices. Below is a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you can expect to pay for one of these coins given its condition and type.

Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1868 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin	N/A	N/A	$2,000	$3,000
1868 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin (S)	N/A	N/A	$1,725	$1,850
Source: Red Book