1855 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

The Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin was designed by James B. Longacre, who served as the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1844 through 1869. He is responsible for having designed several popular coins, including the Indian Head penny and 2 cent coin.

The Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins are large, heavy coins that weigh 33.44 grams, contain 0.9613 ounces of gold, and measure 34 millimeters wide. Around 1.2 million Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins were made in 1855, which, with few exceptions, was a relatively average-to-high output during the 1800’s. The 1855 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins are rare, the 1855-O Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin however, takes the prize as the most limited than even the low mintage figure of 8,000, would suggest. The 1855-S had the highest mintage in 1855.

Grading the 1855 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

For coins from the 1800’s, the condition of the coin is always the subject of skepticism for collectors. These coins have had ample opportunity to become damaged and worn, and for that reason you will see collectors paying very close attention to the overall condition the coin is in.

Some collectors prefer to send their coins away for grading, but we understand that not everyone has the financial capabilities to do this. That is why we have provided below a listing of the different popular coin grades as well as their associated characteristics.

Uncirculated: This is the highest coin grade that exists and is used to describe coins that have been kept out of harms way since the day they were minted. Having not been damaged in the slightest, these coins appear to have been just minted. Naturally, collectors are willing to pay top-dollar for coins that are in such superb condition.

Extremely Fine: Extremely Fine is the coin grade reserved for coins that spent time in circulation, but that time was limited. These coins will show almost no signs of wear whatsoever and will appear to be pristine. Under closer inspection, however, you will notice that there is some extremely light wear able to be made out.

Fine: Fine is the grade given to coins that were exchanged for a longer period of time. These coins have had ample opportunity to become damaged, but the damage you will notice will be light in nature. All in all, these are perfect to add to any collection, but they are not in the best condition.

Good: If a coin is graded as being Good, you will notice that it is in fairly rough shape. These coins will play host to a whole lot of damage ranging from heavy chipping to even the bending of the coin. Though not in the best condition, some of these coins still fetch a fairly hefty price tag thanks to their being so rare.

Pricing the 1855 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

When it comes to attempting to purchase a 1855 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin, the best way to figure out how much you might be asked to pay is by paying attention to a few facets of the coin. For one, because there were multiple types of this coin made every year, the exact type you have will play into the asking price. Secondly, condition is everything for the average collector, so it goes without saying that the better condition the coin is in the higher the asking price will be. Utilize the chart below to gain a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for one of these coins if you are given its condition and type.

Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1855 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin	N/A	N/A	$2,350	$3,000
1855 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin (O)	N/A	N/A	$25,000	$47,500
1855 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin (S)	N/A	N/A	$2,250	$3,000
Source: Red Book