1895 Liberty Head Double Eagle

Some 2.2 million 1894 Liberty Head double eagles were made, which means these $20 gold coins among the more common 19th-century gold double eagles produced. As was the case for much of the 1890s, only the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints handled production of the double eagle in 1895, yet both mints each managed to pump out more than 1 million double eagles.

1895 $20 double eagle gold coins weigh 33.44 grams, contain 0.9613 ounces of gold, and measure 34 millimeters wide. The hefty weight and large size of $20 gold coins are two appealing factors to coin collectors and bullion investors alike.

Here is a breakdown of the mintages and values of 1895 double eagle gold coins:

• 1895, 1,114,605; $2,551

• 1895-S, 1,143,500; $2,551

• 1895 proof, 51; $82,500

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

While mintage figures may look robust for the Philadelphia and San Francisco business strike double eagles of 1895, remember that far fewer pieces survive today than were minted. This is very much the case for all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. For that reason, it is prudent from the buyer’s perspective to only buy 1895 double eagle gold coins 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).