1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

The 1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins produced less than 870,000 coins, meaning fewer survive today, making them quite rare. The San Francisco mint, which was in the heart of the Gold Rush region of California, handled much of the coin production that year. Gold coins were mainly used in the West, though they did see some action along the eastern seaboard. Keep in mind that $20 was a lot of money in the 1860s, as a result, the Liberty Head $20 Gold Coins were mainly used during large transactions, most likely banking related.

For collectors, no matter what variety of 1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin you acquire, it goes without saying that you desire a coin that is in excellent condition. Because these coins were produced well over a century ago, not many have survived the years in great shape, which is why collectors are willing to pay top-dollar for a 1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin that has been well-preserved.

Grading the 1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

If you are talking about a coin that is more than a century old, then you know that the condition of said coin is never guaranteed. While one piece may have been able to withstand the test of time, another piece may have suffered a lot of damage during that same expanse of time. This is why when collectors go to make a purchase of one of these coins, they are very careful about closely analyzing any and all imperfections.

Another way to do this is to have a coin graded, but not everyone has the time and money to do this. For that reason, we have provided below a listing of the different popular coin grades along with their characteristics.

Uncirculated: A coin determined to be Uncirculated is one that spent no time at all changing hands. These coins have been extremely well-preserved over the years and will take on the appearance of a coin that has just been minted. All in all, these are the number one desired coin for collectors, but also some of the most expensive.

Extremely Fine: If a coin is determined to be of Extremely Fine grade, this means that it has been in circulation, but only for a limited period of time. These coins will play host to some light scratching and other mild signs of wear, but for the most part will appear to be pristine.

Fine: If the coin in question is receiving of a Fine grade, this means that it has been circulated quite heavily, but hasn’t been too heavily damaged during that time. You will notice light scratching on the surfaces of these coins, and the overall texture will have been smoothed out thanks to the changing of hands over the years.

Good: Good is the lowest grade a coin can receive and is usually given to those pieces that have been very heavily damaged over the years. These coins will show ample signs of wear, so much so that at times it may be physically impossible to make out the coin’s inscriptions and imagery with the naked eye. Though often inexpensive, these coins are the least desirable for most collectors.

Pricing the 1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

In order to price a coin that is as old as the 1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin, you must look no further than the condition of the coin and the coin’s type. Because multiple types of this coin were minted every year, the scarcity associated with that particular coin type will assuredly play into the asking price. Secondly, the condition of the coin means everything to collectors, so those coins that have been well-preserved are the ones that will sell for the highest price tags. Below is a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for one of these coins given their type and condition.

Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin	N/A	N/A	$1,725	$2,000
1869 Liberty Head $20 Gold Coin (S)	N/A	N/A	$1,725	$1,775
Source: Red Book