1899 Liberty Head Double Eagle

Nearly 2.7 million 1899 Liberty Head double eagles were made, quite a substantial figure in the scope of 19th-century $20 gold coins. Liberty Head double eagles were designed by James B. Longacre in 1849 and in 1899 were struck by the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. A significantly larger number of $20 gold coins were made at the San Francisco mint in 1899 than Philadelphia, the latter of which struck both proof and business-strike coins.

1899 $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 look at the mintages and values of 1899 double eagle gold coins:

• 1899, 1,669,300; $2,987

• 1899-S, 2,010,300; $2,987

• 1899 proof, 84; $200,000

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

Bear in mind that the mintage figures above don’t reflect the number of issues that exist today. A large number of 1899 double eagles have been melted or damaged beyond a condition favorable to coin collectors, meaning far fewer pieces survive today than were originally minted. This is the case for all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. It thus makes sense from the perspective of the purchaser to buy 1899 double eagle gold coins that have been certified by reputable third-party coin authentication firms. These include the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS), Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).