1865 Liberty Head Double Eagle

1865 Liberty Head double eagles were made at the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints, which collectively managed to strike almost 1.4 million $20 gold coins that year. Most of the $20 gold coin output in 1865 came from San Francisco, which was based in the heart of Gold Rush country and is where gold coins tended to regularly circulate at that time.

Below is a look at the mintages and values of 1865 double eagle gold coins:

• 1865, 351,175; $3,394

• 1865-S, 1,042,500; $3,258

• 1865 proof, 25; $250,000

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

The double eagle debuted in 1849 and was originally designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. 1865 double eagles contain 0.9613 ounces of gold, weigh 33.44 grams, and are 34 millimeters wide, which placed them among the largest and heaviest gold coins ever to circulate in the United States. As is the case with essentially all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, 1865 gold double eagles are much scarcer than the mintage figures above would suggest, due to melting. As pre-1933 gold coins are relatively rare, you should consider buying only certified coins from reputable third-party coin grading firms.