1850 Liberty Head Double Eagle

1850 Liberty Head double eagle $20 gold coins are the first year of the series that is readily available to coin collectors and investors, as the first year – 1849 – saw only one specimen, which sits at the Smithsonian Institution coin collection in Washington, D.C. 1850 $20 gold coins, saw a very large original output of more than 1.3 million coins between the Philadelphia and New Orleans mints.

Here’s a rundown of the 1850 Liberty Head double eagles:

• 1850, 1,170,262; $3,495

• 1850-O, 141,000; $6,720

*Values are for coins in a grade of Extremely Fine 40.

$20 double eagles weigh 33.44 grams and contain 0.9613 ounces of gold. With a diameter of 34 millimeters, Liberty Head double eagles are large, heavy coins that appeal not only to bullion investors but also coin collectors.

As is the case with all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, it should be noted that the 1850 Liberty Head $20 gold coin is much scarcer than mintage figures may suggest. After 1933, when the United States was removed from the gold standard, millions of gold coins were melted down, including large numbers of double eagles. Therefore, you should ensure that any gold coins you buy are authentic. Protect yourself by buying gold coins only from reputable coin dealers or purchasing coins in third-party certified holders.