1892-CC $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle NGC AU58

This attractive piece would fit nicely in a collection of Carson City gold pieces. The penultimate Carson City double eagle issue had a small mintage of 27,265 pieces.

Most survivors are in XF and AU grades. Over the years, small hoards of the 1892-CC Twenty have been discovered. However, this is still a scarce issue. NGC has graded 255 as AU58 with 202 finer. Collectors Universe prices this issue at $12,500.00 in AU58.

Self portrait of James B. Longacre (from 1845), the US Mint Chief Engraver who designed and engraved the famous Liberty Head double eagle series (1850-1907). Image: Wikimedia Commons.

The obverse of the $20 Double Eagle features a left-facing Liberty design influenced by Greco-Roman sculpture. 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 date is found below the image of Liberty.

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. Within the stars is IN GOD WE TRUST. Two contrived ribbons are found upon the shoulders of the creature, one of which the eagle holds firmly in its beak. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is split between two larger 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 DOLLARS surround the bird at the coin's rim.