Designed by: James Barton Longacre
Issue Dates: 1877-1907
Composition: 90% gold, 10% copper
Diameter: 34 mm
Weight: 33.436 grams (515.99 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 64,137,477
Proof Mintage: 2,426
The Coronet or Liberty Head obverse motif was continued during the 1877-1907 span, as was the reverse with IN GOD WE TRUST above the eagle. However, the denomination, formerly expressed as TWENTY D., was changed to read TWENTY DOLLARS, thus creating a new type. Examples were produced continuously at Philadelphia and intermittently at Carson City and San Francisco. New Orleans produced double eagles of this style in 1879, and pieces were struck at Denver in 1906 and 1907. There are a number of rare issues within the span, with the 1883 and 1884 Philadelphia coins being legendary in this regard.
The type set collector will have no difficulty obtaining a representative example in any grade from Very Fine to AU, with Extremely Fine and AU pieces being abundant. Uncirculated pieces are scarcer and when seen are apt to be dated during the last decade of production. Superb Uncirculated pieces are scarcer yet and when found are apt to be dated 1904. Proofs in all instances are rare.
