1892 Liberty Head Double Eagle

A little less than 1 million 1892 Liberty Head double eagles were made, making that date fairly uncommon among all $20 gold coins. The Philadelphia, Carson City, and San Francisco mints produced gold double eagles that year, with the San Francisco mint handling the bulk of the load.

Here is a breakdown of the mintages and values of 1892 double eagle gold coins:

• 1892, 4,430; $5,816

• 1892-CC, 27,265; $3,490

• 1892-S, 930,150; $2,559

• 1892 proof, 93; $90,000

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

Unlike many years, in which the Carson City mint’s output was lower than Philadelphia’s, the Nevada mint produced higher quantities and still has more extant 1892-dated coins today. That fact is illustrated in the higher prices for 1892 Philadelphia double eagles. Bear in mind that in all cases, surviving numbers of 1892 double eagles are lower than the mintages above may indicate.

Given the relative scarceness of pre-1933 gold coins in general, it makes sense from the buyer’s perspective to only buy 1892 double eagles that have been authenticated and certified by reputable third-party coin grading firms. These include the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS), and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).