The 1851 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins struck more than 2.4 million pieces between the Philadelphia and New Orleans mints. Many think that with such a hefty mintage that these coins would be fairly common. Quite the opposite, early Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins are actually quite scarce. Keep in mind, much of the value for gold coins, owes to the intrinsic bullion value. However, scarce pre-1933 gold coins have a huge numismatic premium, and that’s the case with these 1851 $20 gold double eagle coins.
Though these coins have since had their production halted, they are still very popular amongst collectors. Being that they are so old, however, very few exist in excellent condition and that number is only going to lessen as time moves forward.
When it comes to assessing the condition of a coin as old as this particular Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin, that is something collectors do far before ever making a purchase. By closely analyzing every facet of the coin, collectors do their best to determine whether or not it is worth adding to a given collection.
Normally, collectors send their coins away for grading at the hand of a professional coin-grading company, but such is not always an option. Because of that, we have provided below a listing of the different popular coin grades as well as their associated characteristics.
Uncirculated: A coin that has received an Uncirculated grade is one that never spent any time exchanging hands and never had the opportunity to become damaged. These well-preserved pieces are perfect in most every way and have even retained their shine from the day they were minted. Collectors are willing to pay top-dollar for these coins and do exactly that all the time.
Extremely Fine: A coin that is graded as being Extremely Fine is one that spent only a limited amount of time being circulated. These coins will have some light signs of wear and tear, but for the most part will appear as though they were never circulated. Only under close inspection will you be able to make out any damage.
Fine: A coin that receives a grade of Fine is one that spent a decent amount of time in circulation. These coins will have been subjected to a lot of damage, but they are, for the most part, in pretty decent shape. Apart from some light signs of visible damage, Fine coins are going to catch the eye.
Good: Good is the lowest grade a coin can receive and is a commonly found grade when talking about Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins. Complete with ample signs of wear and tear, these coins have been worn out over the years and thanks to heavy circulation. All in all, these coins are the most affordable of all graded 1851 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins.
For a coin like the 1851 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin, determining a price is as easy as taking into consideration a few different factors. For one, because there were multiple types of the coin minted every year, the exact type you own will play into the asking price. Secondly, condition is everything for collectors and is something that will also directly influence the price you pay. Below is a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a 1851 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin given its condition and type.
Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin
DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
---|---|---|---|---|
1851 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin | N/A | N/A | $2,300 | $2,750 |
1851 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin (O) | N/A | N/A | $4,250 | $7,000 | Source: Red Book |