1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

The 1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins are the more scarce coins from early in the series. More than 1.3 million 1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins were struck between two mints – the Philadelphia and New Orleans minting facilities. However, as it should always be noted when discussing pre-1933 gold coins, the 1853 double eagle has been melted in huge quantities, which means the mintage figures often quoted for coins like this are more anecdotal. The actual modern-day populations are much lower.

These coins are no longer being produced today, but they have a place in the heart of collectors everywhere and are constantly being sought out by people both at home and abroad. Though everyone is looking for these coins in excellent condition, the truth of the matter is that only very few have been maintained in such a state.

Grading the 1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

If a coin is over 150 years in age, any collector is going to first inquire with regard to the overall condition of the coin in question. Because these pieces have had ample time to become damaged, a close inspection is needed in order for a collector to determine that this is, in fact, the coin they would like to purchase.

Under normal circumstances, the process of judging the condition of a coin is something that is performed by a professional company. Being that not everyone has the time and money to have this grading process performed, we have provided below a listing of the different popular coin grades and their associated characteristics.

Uncirculated: A coin that is determined to be Uncirculated is one that spent no time changing hands. Thanks to this, the coin itself will have been extremely well-preserved such that all imagery and texture remains intact. These coins are the most desirable in the eyes of collectors, but are also some of the most expensive too.

Extremely Fine: A coin that is graded as being Extremely Fine is one that saw barely any time being exchanged on the open market. These coins will have some light wear and tear able to be seen on the surfaces, but for the most part will appear to be clean and pristine. These are also extremely desirable amongst collectors.

Fine: This is the grade given to coins that have been circulated for a moderate amount of time. These coins will appear to have been circulated a good bit and will be complete with things like light scratching and potentially even some chipping as well. All in all, these pieces are in decent shape.

Good: A grade of Good is reserved for coins that have been circulated for extended periods of time and were beaten up along the way. Complete with heavy scratching, chipping, and other signs of wear, these coins will not appear to be in the best condition at all. Still pricy, they are a great addition to any complete collection.

Pricing the 1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

When it comes to pricing the 1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin, there is only one way to do this and that is by taking into consideration a few different factors. For one, because there were multiple types of the coin produced every year, the exact type you own will play into the price. Beyond that, it is the condition the coin is in that will most heavily dictate price. Below is a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a 1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin given its condition and type.

Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin	N/A	N/A	$2,250	$2,750
1853 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin (O)	N/A	N/A	$4,500	$10,500
Source: Red Book