1894 Liberty Head Double Eagle

More than 2.4 million 1894 Liberty Head double eagles were made, making these $20 gold coins among the more common 19th-century gold double eagles made. Only the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints handled production of the double eagle in 1894, yet both mints each managed to pump out more than 1 million $20 gold coins.

1894 $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 breakdown of the mintages and values of 1894 double eagle gold coins:

• 1894, 1,368,940; $2,885

• 1894-S, 1,048,550; $2,885

• 1894 proof, 50; $85,000

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

While mintage figures may look very strong for the Philadelphia and San Francisco business strikes, remember that far fewer pieces survive today than were minted. This is very much the case for all pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. For that reason, it makes sense from the buyer’s standpoint to buy 1894 double eagle gold coins that have been authenticated and certified by reputable third-party coin grading firms. These include the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS), and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).