1871 Liberty Head Double Eagle

Over 1 million 1871 Liberty Head double eagle $20 gold coins were made across the Philadelphia, Carson City, and San Francisco mints, with the mint by the bay handling most of the double eagle production that year. Carson City $20 gold coins are, as if customarily so, the scarcest. Most of the gold-producing mints were located in the West because that’s where the bulk of gold (and silver) was being mined. Accordingly, gold coins tended to circulate far better in that region than back east.

Here is a look at the mintages and values of 1871 double eagle gold coins:

• 1871, 80,120; $2,885

• 1871-CC, 17,387; $27,500

• 1871-S, 928,000; $2,885

• 1871 proof, 30; $200,000

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

1871 $20 double eagle gold coins weigh 33.44 grams and contain 0.9613 ounces of gold. They also are 34 millimeters wide, which makes their diameter about midway between the widths of a modern-day half dollar and silver dollar. The double eagle’s heavy weight and large size make them very popular among coin collectors and investors alike, though the history behind these coins, which were first struck in 1849, is directly linked to the discovery of gold during the Gold Rush, adds a romantic dimension to these classic American coins.