1891 Liberty Head Double Eagle

1891 Liberty Head double eagles are rather common as nearly 1.3 million were originally minted, and many survive to this day. The Philadelphia, Carson City, and San Francisco mints manufactured 1891 $20 gold double eagles, with the latter facility producing the vast majority of that year’s output. It’s not surprising that San Francisco handled most of the double eagle production, as they and other pre-1933 gold coins circulated mainly in the West. 1891 $20 double eagle gold coins contain 0.9613 ounces of gold, weigh 33.44 grams, 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 1891 double eagle gold coins:

• 1891, 1,390; $15,000

• 1891-CC, 5,000; $8,500

• 1891-S, 1,288,125; $2,885

• 1891, 52; $108,000

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

1891 showcases a rare instance when a Carson City issue is actually less expensive than its counterpart Philadelphia variety from the same year. As happened during the course of a few years in the 1880s, the production of double eagles at the Philadelphia mint was quite paltry. Meanwhile, the Carson City mint – located in the heart of the region where gold coins primarily circulated – provided a greater number, if still small quantity, of 1891 $20 gold coins.