1857-S $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle, 20A PCGS AU58 Ex. SS Central America

Would you like to save significant money over the cost of a mint state example of the popular 1857-S Liberty Head double eagle? Well, then AUCM has a great option for you with this listing. Purchase this truly stunning AU58 example and you will save thousands over the price of an MS63 graded piece. Please take a good look at the images provided of this sparkling example. Of those 20A varieties retrieved from the SS Central America, PCGS has graded 10 of them as AU58 with 2,308 finer. The 20A is the “Spiked Shield” variety.

James B. Longacre, who crafted the popular Liberty Head design for the double eagle and other gold coinage. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The obverse of the $20 Double Eagle features a left-facing Liberty. A pearl-encrusted coronet inscribed with “Liberty” adorns her wavy hair, which flows down her neck. Thirteen stars that represent the original colonies/states surround her bust.

The reverse presents Longacre's exaggerated design, featuring a heraldic eagle, one that is quite different from eagles previously found upon our coinage. Dramatic rays emanate from the national bird, and a circle of 13 stars is found hovering over the eagle. Two contrived ribbons encircle the awkward creature, one of which the eagle holds firmly in its beak. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is split between the two ribbons. A federal shield is found on its breast and arrows and the ivy branch of peace are found, respectively, in its right and left talons. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TWENTY D. surround the bird at the coin's rim.