$20 Pre-33 Gold

When it comes to Pre-33 US Gold Coins, the $20 Double Eagle denomination had a shorter production life and overall lower mintage volumes than its counterparts in the $10 Eagle, $5 Half Eagle, and $2.50 Quarter Eagle Series. This was due to the fact that the $20 Double Eagle was first produced in 1850, more than 50 years after the other denominations debuted. Today, rare $20 Pre-33 Gold Eagles exist from the Liberty Head and Saint-Gaudens’ design series, with each specimen capturing a rare snapshot from American coining history.

Liberty Head Era

The first design for the $20 Double Eagle came from James B. Longacre, 4th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. He created the obverse and reverse in 1849, with the coins going into production for circulation use in 1850. His visuals include a left-profile bust of Liberty on the obverse and the Great Seal of the United States on the reverse. The coin features three design “types” impacting the reverse of the coin:

• Type I: 1850-1866, did not include the national motto and used a face value of TWENTY D
• Type II: 1866-1876, added the national motto
• Type II: 1876-1907, continued with the national motto and changed the face value to TWENTY DOLLARS

In general, the rarity of $20 Liberty Double Eagles is determined by conditions such as the mintage volume and the mint mark. For example, Carson City Mint Liberty Double Eagles with a CC mint mark are sought after because of the limited operation of the mint and its low production numbers. The era the coin was struck in can impact its collectible value as well, with Liberty Head Double Eagles from the 1850s reflecting a new era of monetary policy in the United States following the California Gold Rush. During the Civil War, extensive hoarding of gold coins by American citizens resulted in shortages of gold currency. Some of these coins only appeared later as part of private hoards or bank collections.

Saint-Gaudens Era

The second, and final, design in the $20 Double Eagle Series delivered America’s most iconic coin design. Augustus Saint-Gaudens created the Lady Liberty visual on the obverse in 1907. It proved to be a groundbreaking interpretation of American numismatic art and American symbolism at large. It was accompanied by a reverse depiction of a soaring bald eagle. Like its predecessor, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle had three design types, this time impacting both the obverse and reverse:

• Type I: 1907, high relief with Roman numerals for the date on the obverse and no motto on the reverse
• Type II: 1907-1908, low relief with Arabic numerals on the obverse and no motto on the reverse
• Type III: 1908-1933, low relief with Arabic numerals on the obverse and the national motto on the reverse

Rarity in the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Series comes from a variety of factors. 1907 specimens from the Type I release had a low mintage figure and stunning visual quality due to the attempt to strike the coins for circulation in high relief. Surviving specimens with a sharp strike and quality luster can be hard to come by in the 1907 issue.

Condition Matters

Like any rare coin, the overall condition of a $20 Pre-33 Gold Coin will play a big role in its rarity and value. Many of these coins were melted down in 1933, resulting in the loss of countless circulating specimens and others that were privately held or stored in banks. Mint State specimens are low in number relative to the volume produced. The higher the Mint State grade, the more distinctive a piece is and the greater its value.

Buy Rare $20 Pre-33 Gold at JM Bullion

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