1900 Liberty Head Double Eagle

Some 4.3 million 1900 Liberty Head double eagles were struck, rounding out the last year of the 19th century, which began in 1901, on a robust note. This is by far a larger share of double eagles struck than in any year of the 19th century. Liberty Head double eagles were designed by James B. Longacre in 1849 and in 1900 were made at the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. A much larger number of $20 gold coins were made at the San Francisco mint in 1900 than in Philadelphia, the latter of which struck both proof and business-strike coins.

1900 $20 double eagle gold coins contain 0.9613 ounces of gold, weigh 33.44 grams, and measure 34 millimeters wide. The large weight and broad size of $20 gold coins are just two of many appealing factors to coin collectors and bullion investors alike, notwithstanding the historical value of $20 gold coins.

Here is a breakdown of the mintages and values of 1900 double eagle gold coins:

• 1900, 1,874,460; $2,936

• 1900-S, 2,459,500; $2,936

• 1900, 124; $200,000

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

Remember, the mintage figures above don’t reflect the number of issues that exist today. Many 1900 double eagles have been melted or damaged beyond recognition, meaning far fewer pieces survive today for collectors than were originally minted; this is the case for all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. It therefore is prudent from the perspective of the purchaser to buy 1900 double eagle gold coins that have been graded by reputable third-party coin certification firms. These include the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS), Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).