1860 Liberty Head Double Eagle

1860 Liberty Head double eagle $20 gold coins were made in large quantity, with about 1 million pieces rolling off the U.S. Mint’s presses that year. A roughly equal share was made at the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints, with a small number coming from the New Orleans mint.

1860 $20 double eagle gold coins weigh 33.44 grams and contain 0.9613 ounces of gold. They’re also 34 millimeters wide, which places their diameter about midway between the widths of a modern-day half dollar and silver dollar. The double eagle’s heavy weight and large size make them very popular among coin collectors and investors alike, though the history behind these coins – directly linked to the discovery of gold during the Gold Rush – adds an even greater allure to these classic American coins.

Below is a glance at the mintages and values of 1860 double eagle gold coins:

• 1860, 577,670; $2,975

• 1860-O, 6,600; $12,500

• 1860-S, 544,950; $3,202

• 1860 proof, 59; $250,000

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

As is the case with virtually all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, it should be remembered that 1860 gold double eagles are much scarcer than the mintage figures above would suggest. This is especially true for the 1860-O $20 gold coin, which already saw a tiny production figure to begin with. Add in the fact that many were melted and few were preserved, and the 1860-O double eagle becomes a very rare coin indeed. For peace of mind, if you decide to pursue buying an 1860 gold double eagle, be sure it’s in a certified slab from a reputable third-party coin grading firm.