1904 Liberty Head Double Eagle

Nearly 12 million 1904 double eagles were made – by far the most for any single year during the Liberty Head $20 gold coin series, which ran from 1849 through 1907. Liberty Head double eagles were designed by James B. Longacre and have their roots in the Gold Rush era, which centered in the California but had ripple effects throughout the West and the United States as a whole. Roughly more than half of the 1904 $20 gold coins were made at the Philadelphia mint, which is unusual given that the San Francisco mint more often struck the bulk of double eagles during any given year.

Here is a look at the mintages and values of 1904 double eagle gold coins:

• 1904, 6,256,699; $2,885

• 1904-S, 5,134,175; $2,885

• 1904 proof, 98; $200,000

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

Since far fewer Liberty Head double eagles exist today for coin collectors than were originally minted, it’s wise for prospective purchasers to buy 1904 $20 gold coins that have been graded by reputable third-party coin certification companies. These firms include the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (ANACS), Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).