1889 Liberty Head Double Eagle

1889 Liberty Head double eagles are rather uncommon as less than 900,000 were originally made at the Philadelphia, Carson City, and San Francisco mints, with the latter facility producing most of that year’s issue. However, it’s not surprising that San Francisco handled most of the double eagle production, as they and other pre-1933 gold coins circulated mainly in the West. 1889 $20 double eagle gold coins contain 0.9613 ounces of gold, weigh 33.44 grams, and measure 34 millimeters wide. The overall hefty weight and large size of $20 gold coins is appealing to coin collectors and bullion investors, and the romantic history behind double eagles is alluring to numismatists and non-numismatists alike.

Here is a breakdown of the mintages and values of 1889 double eagle gold coins:

• 1889, 44,111; $2,936

• 1889-CC, 30,945; $4,404

• 1889-S, 774,700; $2,936

• 1889 proof, 41; $105,000

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

The Liberty Head double eagle was designed in 1849 by James B. Longacre, who served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1844 through 1869. In addition to 1889 Liberty Head double eagles, he also designed other popular coins, including the Indian Head penny and 2 Cent coin, the latter of which in 1864 became the first coin to bear the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.”